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Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his case for increased aid to Ukraine at the US Congress on Thursday, against the backdrop of a potential government shutdown and divisive politics that may hamper further support from Washington.
Zelenskyy returned to Capitol Hill on Thursday morning for a closed-door briefing with all 100 members of the US Senate. He also held a smaller briefing with Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and select senior members from both parties in the lower chamber.
Following these briefings, Zelenskyy visited the Pentagon for the first time and is scheduled to meet with US president Joe Biden at the White House.
The Ukrainian president’s visit to Washington occurs as a deepening political dispute in Congress raises the possibility of a government shutdown as early as next week. Additionally, right-wing Republicans threaten to withhold aid to Ukraine as it enters a critical phase in its counteroffensive against Russian forces.
At the center of this dispute is a request from the White House to Congress for an additional $24bn in funding for Ukraine this year. However, the approval of the House of Representatives is required, and McCarthy faces mounting pressure from the isolationist faction of his party to oppose more aid for the country.
McCarthy declined Zelenskyy’s request to deliver an address this week to a joint session of Congress, citing a lack of time and comparing the situation to similar instances involving the prime ministers of the UK and Italy.
The Democratic Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer expressed concerns on Wednesday about the potential impact of a government shutdown on Ukraine’s war effort after a classified briefing with top military and security officials from the Biden administration. He reiterated these concerns after his meeting with Zelenskyy, quoting the Ukrainian president as saying, “If we don’t get the aid, we will lose the war.”
Ahead of Zelenskyy’s arrival in Washington, nearly 30 Republican lawmakers wrote a letter to the White House rejecting the $24bn funding request and demanding clarity on the strategy and exit plan for Ukraine.
Despite the divide within the Republican party, Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, has advocated for increased weapons and funding for Kyiv.
After meeting with Zelenskyy, Michael McCaul, the Republican chair of the House foreign affairs committee, expressed support for providing Ukraine with everything it needs, including long-range missiles. He acknowledged ongoing political maneuvering but assured that the funding request from the White House would be passed.
The Biden administration is expected to announce a separate aid package for Ukraine on Thursday, in addition to the larger funding package it has requested. However, no decision has been made regarding Ukraine’s plea for long-range missiles known as ATACMS, as there are concerns about potential implications for US-Russia and US-China relations.
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