Biden chides opposition to Ukraine aid bill

US President Joe Biden on Monday said he was willing to meet House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss a funding bill for Ukraine’s war against Russia, saying that Republicans were making a mistake by opposing the aid package.

The Senate in a bipartisan vote earlier in February passed a $95bn aid package that included funds for Ukraine, but Johnson so far has declined even to bring it up for a vote on the floor of the House, which Republicans control by a narrow 219-212 margin. He has been demanding a meeting with Biden.

“Sure I’d be happy to meet with him, if he has anything to say,” Biden said.

Speaking to reporters as he returned to the White House from a weekend in Delaware, Biden said Republicans were making a big mistake by opposing aid to Ukraine for use in its war to repel Russian invaders.

PRESIDENT PREPARED TO MEET HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON WHO HAS DECLINED TO BRING THE PACKAGE UP FOR A VOTE

Congress is not due back in Washington until February 28, when it will face an urgent deadline to avert a partial government shutdown that would begin on March 1.

Some legislators have been discussing alternative bills or paths to bypass Johnson’s objections, but those alternatives all carry their own uncertainties.

Biden, who has been sharply critical of his likely election rival Donald Trump and other Republicans for threatening to not defend Nato allies if members do not pay enough for the common defence, said Republicans were making a big mistake by “walking away from the threat of Russia” and “walking away from Nato”.

“It’s just shocking,” he said. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Biden said he hoped that the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny in a Russian penal colony in the Arctic region last Friday would spur Republicans to support the aid for Ukraine, but said, “I’m not sure” it would make a difference. Biden also said the US was considering more sanctions on Russia for Navalny’s death.

“We already have sanctions, but we are considering additional sanctions, yes,” he said.

Biden on Friday blamed Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s death and warned there could be consequences, saying he was “not surprised” but “outraged” by the opposition leader’s passing. /