President Joe Biden apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for a monthslong delay in aid for his war with Russia during their meeting on the sidelines of D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations.
“We’re not going to walk away from you,” Biden told Zelensky on Friday in Paris, blaming resistance from congressional Republicans for the aid’s uncertainty. “I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what’s going to pass in terms of funding because we had trouble getting the bill that we had to pass that had the money in it. Some of our very conservative members were holding it up. But we got it done finally.”
Biden also announced the United States would be providing another $225 million in aid to Ukraine, including more munitions to increase its air defense capabilities, to reporters who were brought into the room at the InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel before the start of the bilateral meeting with Zelensky.
“The way you’ve stood in holding on to Kharkiv, you’ve proven once again that the people of Ukraine cannot and will never be overtaken,” he said. “I assure you the United States is going to stand with you. I’ve said that all during this debate. I continue to say it. The United States is standing with you. You are the bulwark against the aggression that’s taking place. We have an obligation to be there.”
The meeting comes one week before Zelensky’s peace summit in Switzerland on June 15. The Ukrainian president had criticized Biden’s decision not to attend. But on Friday, Zelensky thanked Biden for sending Vice President Kamala Harris to the summit in his stead.
“Our meeting here is very symbolic,” Zelensky said. “It’s very important that you stay with us, this bipartisan support with the Congress. It’s very important that in this unity, the United States of America, all the American people stay with Ukraine, like it was during World War II, how the United States helped to save human lives, to save Europe, and we count on your continuing support standing with us shoulder to shoulder. Thank you so much.”
The meeting also comes after another important Biden decision: permitting Ukraine to use U.S.-made weapons in Russia.
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“Your decisions have had a very positive influence,” Zelensky said. “I don’t want to share everything, all the details with press, sorry, but there are some details on the battlefield that you need to hear from us.”
In April, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) had to rely on Democrats to pass a $95 billion aid bill that included funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Johnson’s decision was criticized by hard-line Republicans, such as Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), who called on the speaker to resign.