After aid drop, albeit temporary, Kiev seeks Washington to ensure flow
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The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson claims that the situation with the US temporary budget will not stop the flow of aid to Ukraine.
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The US and Ukrainian flags float on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC, on December 21, 2022 (AFP)
Ukraine said Sunday it was working with the United States to ensure new military aid after US lawmakers dropped additional funding for Kiev in a last-minute deal to avoid a government shutdown.
The White House announced on Sunday that US President Joe Biden signed a temporary spending bill, set only to last 45 days, which had passed by Congress to ensure ongoing government funding until November 17.
The funding bill passed by Congress on Saturday left out new aid to Ukraine amid opposition from some hardline Republicans.
"The Ukrainian government is now actively working with its American partners to ensure that the new US budget decision, which will be developed over the next 45 days, includes new funds to help Ukraine," Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko confirmed.
Nikolenko added that "the situation with the US temporary budget will not stop the flow of aid to Ukraine, which was announced earlier."
Meanwhile, Biden said on Sunday the United States "will not walk away" from Ukraine despite the shutdown deal.
The US President vowed that the United States would not abandon Ukraine despite aid being dropped from a deal to avoid a government shutdown,
"I want to assure our American allies, the American people and the people in Ukraine that you can count on our support. We will not walk away," Biden said in an address from the White House.
He further added there was an "overwhelming sense of urgency" to get Congress to pass a new package of assistance to Ukraine in the days and weeks to come as the war continues.
In this context, Biden suggested that Democrats have made a deal with Republicans on support for Ukraine.
Biden, asked at a press conference if he could trust Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives Kevin McCarthy in future deals, responded, "We just made one about Ukraine, so we’ll find out."
However, Biden continued his address only to lash out at Republicans, calling on House Speaker Kevin McCarthy to avoid another shutdown drama when the 45-day stopgap deal agreed on Saturday runs out.
"I'm sick and tired of the brinksmanship," Biden said, speaking from the Roosevelt Room at the White House.
"The brinksmanship has to end. There shouldn't be another crisis."
Ukraine has relied heavily on Western support since the start of the war last year. The United States has been the country's biggest financial backer, providing it with over $40 billion in military assistance.
But the issue of sending more funds to Ukraine has caused turmoil among the politicians in Washington, where some Republican lawmakers have pushed for deep spending cuts.
88 voted in favor of the decision while nine voted against it. Those who reportedly voted against include Republican Senators Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Ted Cruz, Bill Hagerty, Mike Lee, Roger Marshall, Rand Paul, Eric Schmitt, and J.D. Vance.
If funding measures had not gone into effect before October 1, federal agencies would have been forced to halt "nonessential" work and paychecks until the shutdown is lifted, which also goes for the Small Business Administration, which is responsible for processing new business loans for small businesses.
"Tonight, bipartisan majorities in the House and Senate voted to keep the government open, preventing an unnecessary crisis that would have inflicted needless pain on millions of hardworking Americans," Biden said in a statement.
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