White House Suggests Time Is Running Out For Ukraine Amid Congressional Inaction

The White House on Tuesday explained the war in Ukraine is at a critical juncture, with Kyiv at risk of losing more territory as a bill with additional U.S. funding for the war-torn country has stalled in the GOP-led House of Representatives.

While the Senate has already approved a $90 billion package that would, among other things, provide more aid to Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) has resisted bringing it to the House floor for a vote under pressure by right-wing Republicans, who oppose it.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre explained that this reality has forced Ukrainian troops to ration ammunition, repeating that President Joe Biden has urged the lower chamber “to support our national security” and pass the bill.

National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby described the situation on the ground as “very dire,” as he noted that Ukraine has already started ceding territory to the Russians,including the city of Avdiivka in the eastern part of the country, as the absence of U.S. funding has limited their ability to fight back.

“If they continue to get no support from the United States, in a month or two, it is very likely that the Russians will achieve more territorial gains and have more success against Ukrainian frontlines in terms of just territory gain, mostly in the East but potentially even in the South,” Kirby added.

Kirby’s remarks follow a meeting hosted by President Joe Biden at the Oval Office, which was attended by Vice President Kamala Harris and the four congressional leaders, Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Johnson, to discuss the supplemental aid package and the looming government shutdown.

Schumer, who made a surprise trip to