According to Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder, if the US Congress does not approve President Joe Biden's request to finance further military aid to Ukraine, Washington will have to choose between its own combat readiness and arms supplies to Kyiv.
The Pentagon warned of the consequences if the request for further assistance to Ukraine is not approved
Ryder noted that the US Department of Defense has about $4.4 billion left and another $1 billion in the Presidential Assistance Fund.
Of course, we have the option to spend the entire $4.4 billion, but that's a tough choice. Ultimately, we will have to make decisions about our own combat readiness and our ability to continue to support Ukraine to the extent that it must be supported on the battlefield. This is the reason why we are asking Congress to approve the request for additional funding as quickly as possible, the spokesman of the Pentagon explained.
The White House is criticizing Congress for refusing to approve a request for further aid to Ukraine
According to White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre, House Republicans should not go home for the holidays when vital work still needs to be done.
House Speaker Mike Johnson did not support Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer's proposal to extend the work of both houses of Congress for a week to approve additional funding for Ukraine before Christmas.
As you heard from the President yesterday, the American people will not turn their backs on Ukraine and its struggle for freedom against tyranny. However, Speaker Johnson said that the House of Representatives will finish its work tomorrow without agreeing on the border issues, without funding Israel, without funding urgent needs for Ukraine, the spokeswoman of the White House said.
