The heads of the State Department and Pentagon warn that funding for Israel without funding for Ukraine will benefit Putin
The heads of the State Department and Pentagon delivered a warning to senators on Tuesday, stating that if lawmakers approve funding for Israel but not for Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin will be the winner. During a Senate Appropriations Committee hearing, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged senators to support the Biden administration’s $106 billion supplemental request for Israel, Ukraine, and the Indo-Pacific. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a joint funding package that includes both Israel and Ukraine.
However, House Republicans, who are skeptical of providing additional aid to Ukraine, have threatened to derail the plan. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) is pushing for an Israel-only package that would also cut billions in funding for the Internal Revenue Service. Austin and Blinken cautioned that without continued U.S. funding for Ukraine, Russian forces would be certain to defeat Kyiv, leading to broader consequences for the world.
“It’s hard to determine an exact timeline for Russia’s victory,” Austin responded when asked how long it would take for Russia to win without additional aid to Kyiv. “But without our support, Putin will be successful… If we abandon Ukraine now, Putin’s power will only grow stronger.” Blinken added that leaving Ukraine out in the cold would not only harm American values but also our core interests.
“There is no doubt in my mind that if Putin is allowed to act without consequences, he will not stop at Ukraine and may potentially target a NATO country next,” Blinken warned. “This would send a message to other aggressors around the world that if Putin can get away with it, so can they. Ultimately, we could end up in a conflict-ridden world.”
The clash over Ukraine aid is intensifying as the Senate and House move forward. House Republicans are set to vote on a separate $14.3 billion military aid package for Israel, matching President Biden’s request. However, this package would remove over $60 billion in funding for Ukraine, which the White House has warned is crucial for supporting Ukrainian troops. Additionally, the GOP proposal to reduce funding for the IRS is unlikely to gain traction in the Senate.
Speaker Mike Johnson’s focus on an Israel-only aid package puts him at odds with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), who supports a joint package that includes aid for both Israel and Ukraine. Multiple lawmakers at the hearing emphasized the significance of passing aid for both countries in a single package, including Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-Wash.) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Murray stated that addressing all priorities in a unified package is essential because these issues are interconnected and urgent. She highlighted the widespread support for continued Ukraine aid in both chambers. “There should be no controversy in securing this funding,” Murray asserted. She also emphasized that China and Russia are closely observing how the U.S. responds to these conflicts. Collins echoed Murray’s sentiments, warning of dire consequences for national security if the two spending efforts are not passed together.
Senator John Hoeven (R-N.D.) called for support for both Israel and Ukraine, emphasizing the need to stop tyrants like Putin. In his testimony, Blinken drew a connection between the Ukraine-Russia war and the Hamas-Israel conflict, using it to advocate for the full supplemental. He highlighted Russia’s pursuit of military assistance from Iran and the exchange of advanced military technology. By not maintaining a comprehensive package, Blinken argued, the U.S. would be playing into the hands of its adversaries, making it easier for them to pose a threat to American security and that of its allies.
Blinken also emphasized the importance of including Taiwan aid in the package, stating that events in Eastern Europe and the Middle East have implications for the Indo-Pacific region. Austin took a more sobering approach, warning that if Putin is successful in Ukraine, he won’t stop there. Austin expressed his belief that sooner or later, Putin will challenge NATO, putting the U.S. at risk of entering a shooting war.
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