Pass Ukraine funding bid or give Putin ‘greatest gift he could hope for’, Biden warns
Joe Biden has urged Congress to pass his extra funding bid for Ukraine before the holiday recess starts.
“Frankly I think it’s stunning we’ve gotten to this point in the first place,” the US president says as he delivers remarks from the White House.
He says congressional leaders are “willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for and abandon our global leadership”.
“Who is prepared to walk away from holding Putin accountable? Who is prepared to do that?” Mr Biden asks.
He says the US is committed to staying with Ukraine, and warns that if Mr Putin takes the country “he won’t stop there”.
“We can’t let Putin win, it’s in our overwhelming national interest and international interest of all our friends,” he adds.
The US president says extreme Republicans in Congress are “playing chicken with our national security” and “holding Ukraine’s funding hostage”.
He urges lawmakers to “get past” their divisions and support Ukraine, warning that the world’s eyes are on the US.
Mr Biden did not take questions as he wrapped up his brief remarks.
