Biden warns US Congress against neglecting its responsibility towards Ukraine

President Biden said the US Congress would be guilty of dereliction of duty if it failed to pass an aid package for Ukraine amid Kiev's conflict with Moscow.

"The United States Congress would be derelict if it did not support Ukraine. That would be outrageous," President Joe Biden said during a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on February 9.

The White House has repeatedly warned US lawmakers that a decision to withhold aid to Ukraine would damage its ability to continue fighting Russian forces two years into the conflict.

Republicans have called on the Biden administration to take tougher measures on border security with Mexico as a condition for approving a new aid package for Ukraine.

The US Senate on February 8 pushed forward an aid package of more than $95 billion, including about $60 billion for Ukraine. However, observers are skeptical that the aid package can win enough support from the Republican-controlled House of Representatives to pass.

US President Joe Biden (right) meets with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the White House on February 9. Photo: AFP

Chancellor Scholz visited the White House on February 9 and met with President Biden to discuss the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the Middle East crisis. He said Germany had recently made a decisive contribution to the effort to support Ukraine in repelling Russian troops.

“Now the same needs to be done in the rest of Europe and the US,” Mr Scholz said, adding that President Vladimir Putin was betting on a scenario of declining Western support for Ukraine.

Mr. Scholz called the conflict in Ukraine "the biggest crisis", the consequences of which affect security and peace not only in Europe but everywhere in the world.

The European Union (EU) last week approved a $54 billion aid package for Ukraine over the next four years, after months of opposition from Hungary.

President Biden and Chancellor Scholz hope their discussion can increase pressure on Republicans to pass an aid package for Ukraine in the coming time.

Thanh Tam (According to Reuters, AFP )

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