Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy appealed to the U.S. for increased aid in countering Russia, extending an invitation to former President Donald Trump to witness the conflict’s magnitude firsthand. Zelenskiy cautioned that without heightened American support, a broader European conflict involving Russia could potentially draw in U.S. troops.
President Joe Biden has been advocating for a $106 billion supplementary spending bill, primarily allocating funds to fortify Ukraine’s defenses, while also dispersing the remainder across Israel, the Indo-Pacific, and border enforcement.
However, the Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives has proposed its own funding plan, passing a $14.3 billion aid bill solely for Israel, without any augmentation for Ukraine.
Senator Chuck Schumer, the Democratic majority leader of the Senate, has stated his intention to withhold the House bill from a vote, with Biden vowing to veto it. Zelenskiy’s interview emphasized the invitation to former President Trump, who has been critical of U.S. support for Kyiv and has claimed he could end the conflict swiftly if reelected in 2024. However, Zelenskiy doubts Trump’s ability to bring about peace due to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions.
