Biden Urges Congress to Act Swiftly on Ukraine Aid

President Joe Biden urged Congress to pass aid for Ukraine, emphasizing that "petty partisan politics can't get in the way" of supporting Kyiv. The proposed $106 billion aid package includes funding for Ukraine's defenses against Russia, as well as support for Israel, Taiwan, and operations at the US-Mexico border. Top Republicans have requested that further funding be tied to major immigration-related policy changes. Biden expressed willingness to compromise on border security but stressed that Ukraine's needs are too critical to wait. He warned that failure to pass the funding would give Putin "the greatest gift he could ask for" and could potentially lead to Russia attacking a NATO ally. Negotiations in Congress have become tense, with the White House signaling openness to tying border policy changes to the aid package. The Senate is expected to vote on advancing the aid package, but Republicans may block the move.