Biden talks to allies about Ukraine aid

President Joe Biden called leaders of major U.S. allies on Tuesday and reassured them of his commitment to helping Ukraine. Biden asked Congress in August for an additional $24 billion to aid Ukraine’s defense against Russia. The United States has given at least $43 billion to Kyiv since Russia invaded in 2022.

Why did Congress not pass additional funding? Congress approved and Biden signed a 45-day spending bill on Saturday, narrowly avoiding a government shutdown. The short-term resolution did not include additional funds for Ukraine. The Biden administration warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin will take advantage of any gap in aid. Many Republicans argue the funds are needed to solve domestic problems, such as the southern border crisis.

Dig deeper: Listen to Clara York’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about continued funding for Ukraine.