US President Joe Biden has issued a plea to Republicans blocking further aid to Ukraine to “not turn our back on freedom” after a disappointing debate in Congress saw a thin majority vote down a new multibillion-dollar support package for Kyiv.
US Congress failed to pass a 110 billion dollar package of wartime funding for Ukraine and Israel, as well as other national security priorities, on Wednesday night. Republicans have suggested more money needs to be allocated to securing the US border with Mexico.
In a video statement on X, Mr Biden said: “Petty partisan, angry politics cannot get in the way of our responsibility as a leading nation in the world.” He added: “History will judge us harshly if we turn our back on freedom’s cause in Ukraine. We can’t let Putin win.”