The Daily Telegraph - Saturday
Russia is gaining while you take a holiday, Biden warns Congress
House speaker sends representatives into recess without putting $60 billion Ukraine aid bill to a vote
JOE BIDEN yesterday warned Congress that Russian forces were making gains while they are on holiday after it failed to pass his $60billion (£42billion) package of military aid for Ukraine.
The US president also said that Vladimir Putin would continue on his path of destruction unless he “does not pay the price”, as the White House unveiled its largest package of sanctions against Moscow in response to the war.
At the same time, David Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, warned the Russian president would “be back for more” if Western governments let war fatigue set in and allowed his military to prevail in Ukraine.
As Ukraine marks the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion today, Russia is advancing across much of the 600-mile front line. Last week, its troops seized the eastern city of Avdiivka, as Kyiv was forced to abandon defensive positions in part because of ammunition shortages caused by an absence of US aid.
Mr Biden told a meeting of the National Governors Association at the White House: “Let me be clear, the House of Representatives must pass the bi-partisan national security bill. The bill provides urgent funding for Ukraine and if the Speaker called for a vote in the House it would pass easily today. Instead, they went on vacation.
“All kidding aside, history’s watching, the clock is ticking. Brave Ukrainian soldiers and civilians are dying. Russia has taken Ukraine territory for the first time in many months.
“But here in America, the Speaker gave the house a two-week vacation. They have to come back. They have to come back and get this done. Because failure to support Ukraine in this critical moment will never be forgotten.”
Mr Biden’s remarks came as Kyiv said it had shot down an A-50U Russian spy plane over the Sea of Azov. Ukraine’s military intelligence agency shared a map appearing to show the plane crashed in southern Russia.
There was no official comment from Moscow, but authorities in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region said fire crews were at the scene of an air crash, without providing further details.
The Senate has approved a $95billion war chest for US foreign assistance, which includes the Ukrainian aid. But Speaker Mike Johnson sent representatives into recess without putting the spending bill to a vote.
Andrew Bates, the White House’s deputy press secretary, accused Mr Johnson of “appeasing” Iran by refusing to sanction a vote in a memo, Reuters news agency reported.
Washington has not delivered any military aid to Ukraine since agreed spending caps dried up in December.
With future support mired in political disagreement, the White House turned to sweeping sanctions that it hoped would blunt Russia’s war machine. The measures target more than 500 individuals and entities in Russia and 11 other countries, including the United Arab Emirates and China.
Among those targeted were three officials accused of involvement in the death of Alexei Navalny.
The EU, meanwhile, unveiled its 13th package of sanctions in response to the invasion, slapping travel bans on nearly 200 people and businesses and freezing the assets of those helping Russia secure weapons.
The measures came as Russian authorities told Navalny’s mother that he would be buried at the prison unless she agreed to a secret funeral with no public farewell within three hours of receiving their demand.
In an address to the United Nations on Friday, Lord Cameron warned the West to “recognise the cost of giving up” amid signs of dwindling Western support for Kyiv. If we do not stand up to Putin, he will be back for more,” the Foreign Secretary said.
He added: “This is not a man seeking compromise. This is a neo-imperialist bully who believes might is right.”