Biden has said Navalny’s reported death brings new urgency to Ukraine’s need for more US aid.
President Joe Biden said Friday that the death of Russian anti-corruption activist Alexei Navalny brought new urgency to Congress approving tens of billions of dollars for Ukraine to fend off Moscow’s aggression.
Speaking at the White House, Biden said that no matter the cause, he always held Russian President Vladimir Putin responsible for Navalny’s death. He further said, “I hope God will help with this” and continued to push US lawmakers to send more aid to Ukraine.
Biden said lawmakers in the House are “watching history” who have not even moved to take up a Senate-passed bill that would send weapons and money to Ukraine, whose troops U.S. officials say are on the battlefield. Very important weapons are running out.
“The failure to support Ukraine at this critical moment will never be forgotten,” Biden said. “And the clock is ticking. This has to happen. We have to help now.”
Biden said the US has not confirmed Navalny’s death in a Russian prison above the Arctic Circle, but he has no reason to doubt it.
The president sharply criticized House Republicans for letting the chamber go into two-week recess without moving forward on Ukraine funding.
“What are they thinking — oh my God,” Biden said. “It’s bizarre and it’s reinforcing all the concerns about the United States being a responsible ally — I wouldn’t say nervous but real concerns.”
Republican Speaker Mike Johnson had said earlier this week that the House would not be “rushed” into passing the aid, but on Friday he said Putin was “an evil dictator and the world knows that he will do so even after the sudden death of its most prominent man.” are directly responsible for.” Political rival.”
“We must be clear that Putin will face united opposition,” Johnson, R-La., said in a statement. “Every means available to cut off Putin’s ability to finance Putin’s unprovoked war in Ukraine and aggression against the Baltic states.”
Johnson’s plan for delivering aid is unclear. While the speaker has said he personally supports aid to Ukraine, he leads a far-right majority that is strongly aligned with former President Donald Trump, the frontrunner for the GOP presidential nomination. Ahead are those who oppose the law. Republicans have argued that Congress needs to first pass legislation to stop migration at the border, but Johnson and GOP House lawmakers quickly rejected a bipartisan Senate compromise on the border.
In a statement Friday, Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called for an up-or-down vote on the Senate-passed bill.
“We must never let Vladimir Putin and Russia win,” Jeffries said. “This is not the time for platitudes and empty promises. It’s time to choose.”
The Senate on Tuesday passed the Ukraine package, which also includes money for Israel and Taiwan, by a 70-29 vote. Republicans were deeply divided on the bill, with 22 votes in favor and 26 against. Some of the GOP’s strongest opponents argued that Ukraine could not win the war and that a compromise should be reached with Russia, an argument made by Putin himself.
On Friday, Republicans renewed their criticism of Putin — but some suggested it was up to Biden to respond.
Republican Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas voted against the aid, posting, “Alexey Navalny has died: Champion of the Russian people and a brave voice of dissent in Vladimir Putin’s Russia.” “President Biden pledged there would be ‘devastating’ consequences if Navalny died in prison; Now he has to follow it. “America cannot afford another erased red line.”
Lawmakers pushing the Ukraine legislation have blamed Republicans who side with Trump for urging its defeat.
Senator Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Democrat, posted on Twitter, “The Speaker’s loyalty to Trump’s Putin is foolish and dangerous.”
Senator Thom Tillis of North Carolina, who voted for the package, said Navalny gave his life fighting for the country he loved and “Putin is a murderous, crazy dictator.”
Tillis posted, “History will not be kind to those in America who apologize for Putin and praise Russian autocracy.” “Nor will history be kind to America’s leaders who remain silent because they fear the backlash from online pundits.”
Biden, who is eyeing a possible general election rematch against Trump this November, said Americans are “rolling in their graves” after hearing Trump’s comments ranging from Harry Truman to Trump’s comments that the U.S. will not support its NATO allies. cannot defend countries that fail to meet their defense spending targets. attacked.
“As long as I am president, America remains steadfast in its sacred commitments to our allies,” Biden said.