Biden weighs in on Washington’s Ukraine tug-of-war

Yesterday, we mentioned the emerging fight between Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Republicans under the brand-new leadership of Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana over continued US financial support for Ukraine. A central element in the legislative tug-of-war is the question of whether a package containing aid for Israel, which has broad bipartisan support, should be considered separately from aid to Ukraine, which many conservative Republicans oppose.

On Tuesday, the White House weighed in. President Biden has now signaled he would veto any bill that separates US support for its two allies. Speaker Johnson has backed a House bill that provides $14.3 billion for Israel’s defense. The Biden administration wants to provide Israel that $14.3 billion, but as part of a nearly $106 billion spend that includes money for Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific region, and security at the US-Mexico border.

We’re watching to see whether a compromise can be reached, or whether material help for both US allies will be suspended indefinitely by yet another game of legislative chicken in Washington.