WASHINGTON, December 14. /TASS/. Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s visit to Washington failed to help the Biden administration and Congress Republicans reach an agreement on additional aid for Kiev, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina told The Washington Post’s Josh Rogin.
According to Graham, Zelensky’s visit "didn’t help." In his view, the US "administration put him in an untenable position" by thrusting him into the middle of a partisan political fight he was trying hard to avoid.
According to The Washington Post, Graham told Zelensky that "aid to Ukraine has to go through a border, an American southern border that’s more secure." "Zelensky just nodded, without saying a word. His visit to Washington to lobby for US aid had been futile. Even though he met with several key GOP leaders, including House Speaker Mike Johnson (Republican - Louisiana), he failed to shift Republicans from their position that any further aid to Ukraine must be tied to significant policy changes regarding immigration," the paper notes.
The Washington Post added that according to Republican Senator John Cornyn of Texas, "the frustration from senators in both parties was palpable after the Zelensky meeting."
White House National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby on Wednesday declined to say if Zelensky’s visit to Washington had facilitated the administration’s dialogue with the Congress on further aid for Kiev.
In October, the Washington administration asked the US Congress for additional funding for the 2024 fiscal year, particularly to provide aid to Israel and Ukraine and confront China and Russia in the Asia-Pacific region. The Biden administration is seeking to secure about $106 bln for these purposes.
Meanwhile, a number of Republican members of the House of Representatives and the Senate have recently spoken out against providing financial aid to Kiev. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has repeatedly warned of plans to tie any further Ukraine aid with tougher measures to control the US’ southern border. Senate Republican Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has also made similar statements.
On December 6, a bill to assist Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan failed a procedural vote in the US Senate.