President Joe Biden sat down with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in France on Friday and publicly apologized for the delay in U.S. military assistance to the European nation as its war with Russia continues.
Biden’s apology came following events for the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy as Zelensky urged all Americans to support his country’s fight against Russia regardless of political affiliation, the Associated Press reported.
“It’s very important that in this unity, United States of America, all American people stay with Ukraine like it was during World War II,” Zelensky said. “How the United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe. And we count on your continuing support in standing with us shoulder to shoulder.”
Biden told Zelensky the U.S. still supports Ukraine “completely,” even after congressional Republicans spent months pushing back against a $61 billion military assistance package for the country.
“We’re still in. Completely. Thoroughly,” Biden said.
Americans remain divided on U.S. support for Ukraine as America faces its own crisis on the southern border. A Gallup poll released in April showed that 36% of Americans say the U.S. is doing “too much” for Ukraine while 36% say the U.S. isn’t doing enough to help the European country. Only a quarter of Americans believe the Biden administration giving Ukraine the “right amount” of support.
In April, after six months of holdup, Congress passed a package that appropriated an additional $61 billion to help Ukraine in its war effort against Russia. The legislation was promptly approved by Biden. Zelensky thanked the U.S. for its continued support of his country and said that he is working on an agreement with U.S. leaders that would provide military, financial, and political support for Ukraine for the next 10 years.
Russia’s war against Ukraine passed the two-year mark in February, and Putin’s forces recently launched another offensive in the eastern part of Ukraine. U.S. officials said on Thursday that Ukraine would be receiving another $225 million in military aid, the AP reported. The U.S. has been, by far, the largest source of military support for Ukraine, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
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Last week, Biden also permitted Ukraine to use weapons provided by the U.S. to strike targets inside Russia “for counter-fire purposes,” marking a significant shift in U.S. policy.
“The President recently directed his team to ensure that Ukraine is able to use U.S. weapons for counter-fire purposes in Kharkiv so Ukraine can hit back against Russian forces hitting them or preparing to hit them,” one of the U.S. officials said, according to Politico.
When asked by ABC News’ David Muir on Thursday if American weapons are “being used right now inside of Russia,” Biden said, “They’re authorized to be used within proximity to the border. We’re not authorizing strikes 200 miles into Russia. We’re not authorizing strikes on Moscow.”
David Muir: “Are American weapons being used right now inside Russia?”
Joe Biden: “Yes!!!” pic.twitter.com/0ECe4kIdNV
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