President Biden Calls Out Republicans for Failing to Pass Aid
President Joe Biden expressed disappointment in congressional Republicans for not passing additional aid to Ukraine following the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. Despite being asked if House Republicans had “Navalny’s blood on their hands,” Biden refrained from such accusations but emphasized that they were “making a big mistake” by not responding.
“Look, the way they’re walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they’re walking away from NATO, the way they’re walking away from leaving our obligations, it’s just shocking … I’ve never seen anything like this,” Biden stated.
Biden Blames Putin for Navalny’s Death
Navalny’s death, reported by Russia’s Federal Penitentiary Service on Feb. 16, has raised concerns worldwide. Biden has squarely put the blame on Russian President Vladimir Putin for Navalny’s demise. The cause of death remains undisclosed, with Navalny’s family being denied access to his body.
Biden is contemplating imposing additional sanctions on Russia in response to Navalny’s death, focusing on individuals linked to human rights violations. However, the specifics of these sanctions remain undisclosed.
Republicans Face Pressure on Ukraine Aid
As questions linger on whether Navalny’s death could prompt Republicans to act on Ukraine aid, Biden expressed uncertainty about any potential changes. In a shift from previous stances, Biden expressed willingness to meet with House Speaker Mike Johnson to discuss the issue, despite prior refusals from the White House.
House Republicans have stalled bills related to foreign aid, including a bipartisan Senate compromise and a stand-alone measure providing substantial aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. Johnson has criticized Putin following Navalny’s death but has not committed to offering additional aid to Ukraine.
