Russian State TV Host Praises Stalled Ukraine Aid: ‘Well Done, Republicans’ – As Biden Presses For Action

In a joint news conference with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky this week, President Joe Biden made clear to Republicans that if the U.S. refuses to extend further aid to Ukraine, it would be a huge win for Russian President Vladimir Putin. 

Biden emphasized that failure to approve additional funding for Ukraine would not only embolden Putin but also jeopardize Ukraine’s journey towards “[Becoming] proud, free and firmly rooted in the West.” He stressed, “History will judge harshly those who turn their back on freedoms — because today Ukraine’s freedom is on the line, but if we don’t stop putting people in danger, it’s the freedom of everyone almost everywhere.” 

On Russian state TV, one commentator said, “Well done Republicans, they are standing firm.”

While another said, “What’s happening in the U.S. is beneficial to us. Russia is winning. Ukraine is losing. This is it. Their funding and weapons came to an end.”

Zelensky visited Washington in a last-ditch effort to secure Congressional support for fresh aid before lawmakers recessed for the year.

U.S. officials had previously issued urgent warnings ahead of Zelensky’s visit and underscored the urgent need to maintain aid flows to Ukraine, especially ahead of the winter months. However, despite Zelensky’s appeals for Congressional approval of Biden’s requested $61 billion in assistance, Republican lawmakers remained unconvinced.

Ukrainian forces’ counteroffensive against Russian forces has struggled to make significant headway in recent months. The delay in U.S. aid, coupled with divisions among European nations, has raised concerns about decreased allied support as the conflict approaches its two-year mark.

It is anticipated that Putin will target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in the winter to exert pressure. Biden administration officials, ahead of Zelensky’s visit, revealed that U.S. intelligence indicated Moscow believed a winter deadlock would ultimately work to erode Western support.

In the press conference, Zelensky highlighted the desire for a peaceful Christmas and stated that no one except Putin desired a prolonged war. However, the Ukrainian president’s appeals for aid were met with resistance from Republicans, who downplayed the severity of the situation, and asserted that immigration concerns should take precedence over Ukraine’s war needs.

Biden criticized Republicans who used aid to Ukraine as leverage to advance their partisan immigration agenda. While he expressed willingness to negotiate on border solutions, he emphasized that it should not come at the expense of Ukrainian aid. Biden further highlighted the international repercussions of the political standoff and cited praise from Russian propagandists for Republicans’ obstruction of aid.

Data from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy shows that international aid to Ukraine has declined to its lowest level since Putin’s invasion. Ukraine has become increasingly reliant on a few key donors, which include the United States, Germany, Nordic countries and Eastern European nations.

The International Monetary Fund approved the disbursement of $900 million in aid to Ukraine and urged countries to fulfill their pledges toward a $122 billion international aid package announced earlier in the year.

Before he visited Washington, Zelensky traveled to Argentina, where he engaged in discussions with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban about the start of European Union accession talks for Ukraine. Orban’s objection to these talks has also hindered a €50 billion ($53.8 billion) EU aid package for Ukraine.

Putin was in the news last week for a speech in which he encouraged Russian women to “have eight or more children” because of the war losses Russia has suffered.