Over the course of six months, President Biden and his administration worked to build support for new aid for Ukraine, culminating in a Senate vote on a $95 billion foreign aid package, with a majority going to Ukraine. One of the main focuses was on gaining the support of House Speaker Mike Johnson, who initially opposed the aid package. Biden directed his team to emphasize the national security implications of not providing aid to Ukraine, including the potential impact on Europe and the US if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to succeed.
The administration made concerted efforts to provide a full intelligence picture of Ukraine’s battlefield situation to Johnson and his staff, emphasizing the need for continued aid. Despite initial pushback from Johnson, the White House continued to work towards gaining his support, including separate meetings with key lawmakers to discuss the importance of aid for both Ukraine and Israel. The eventual approval of the aid package in the Senate marked a foreign policy win for Biden, who had been advocating for Western support for Ukraine.
Biden sought to make the case for robust aid early on, connecting Ukraine’s battle against Russia to Israel’s conflict with Hamas. The White House faced challenges in working with a new House speaker, but through regular communication and strategic engagement, they were able to move the aid package forward. Various administration officials, including White House staff and national security committee chairs, were involved in briefing key lawmakers on the situation in Ukraine and the importance of aid.
Efforts to secure aid for Ukraine faced hurdles, including disagreements on including border security measures in the aid package. Despite setbacks, Biden continued to push for support and eventually succeeded in getting the aid package passed in the Senate. The White House worked closely with key lawmakers and provided information on the urgent need for action, particularly as the situation in Ukraine and Israel continued to worsen.
The House ultimately passed the aid package, with bipartisan support, after Johnson indicated his readiness to move forward with foreign aid despite opposition from his own party. Biden celebrated the passage with calls to the speaker and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, reaffirming the US commitment to providing assistance to Ukraine. The president also reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of continued support, indicating that help was on the way after months of waiting.
The approval of the aid package marked a significant achievement for Biden, who had been advocating for additional support for Ukraine for months. The bipartisan effort to secure aid demonstrated a united front in providing assistance to countries facing external threats. Moving forward, the administration will work to ensure the effective distribution of aid to Ukraine, Israel, and other regions in need of support. Biden’s commitment to upholding democratic values and supporting allies in times of crisis was evident throughout the process of securing aid for Ukraine.
