US President Joe Biden blasted House Republicans for taking a two-week break and urged Speaker Mike Johnson and members of Congress to return and pass much-needed aid for Ukraine.
“They have to come back. They have to come back and get this done, because failure to support Ukraine in this critical moment will never be forgotten in history — it will be measured, and it will have impact for decades to come,” Biden said at a White House meeting with governors, noting Russia's recent battlefield gains.
He also offered praise for the Ukrainian people two years after Russia’s initial full-scale invasion, saying they “remain unbowed and unbroken in the face of Putin’s vigorous onslaught.”
“This is due to their sheer bravery and their sacrifice, but it's also due to us: Remember, the United States pulled together a coalition of more than 50 nations — 50 nations — for Ukraine,” he said. “We unified and expanded NATO — we can't walk away now.”
Some background: The speaker has resisted calls to bring a Senate-passed aid package up for a quick vote – a move that would require Democratic support and almost certainly spark a revolt from his right flank. The speaker has said the legislation, which includes over $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine, would not pass in its current form, and privately told Republicans last week there is “no rush” to address the issue.