Zelensky pleads for U.S. support in war with Russia as Republican raises concerns

President Joe Biden warned the Republicans that they will be giving a Christmas gift to Russia if they fail to provide additional military aid to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, whose meeting with a top U.S. lawmaker concluded without a commitment for more support.

The Ukrainian president traveled to Washington to plead U.S. officials to back him in the war against Russia, however, his visit was met with unexpected reception from key Republican lawmakers. Mike Johnson, the speaker of the House, would not agree to Biden’s request of sanctioning $61.4 billion to Ukraine.

“What the Biden administration seems to be asking for is billions of additional dollars with no appropriate oversight, no clear strategy to win and with none of the answers that I think the American people are owed,” said Johnson post his meeting with Zelensky.

Biden, who met with Zelensky later at White House, said that neither he nor the American people will walk away from Ukraine. “Putin is banking on the United States failing to deliver for Ukraine,” he said during a press conference with the Ukrainian leader.