Zelensky cancels congressional briefing as Republicans refuse to fund Ukraine

Zelensky pays tribute in front of the Wall of Memory of those who fell for Ukraine in Kiev Photo: AFP via Getty Images

Vladimir Zelensky canceled his appearance at the secret briefing in the US Congress amid a strike over funding for the war in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian president was scheduled to address senators ahead of a vote on an emergency aid package that includes more than $60 billion in new military support for Kyiv.

Congress has been split over military aid to Ukraine for weeks. The White House warns that Russia will succeed on the battlefield unless Congress agrees to new funds for Kyiv. Several Republicans walked out of Capitol Hill on Tuesday night during the funding debate.

It comes as Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron is due to visit Washington on Wednesday for talks with congressional leaders and White House officials on issues of Ukraine and Israel.

Lord Cameron intervenes as the West faces growing divisions over support for Ukraine while Russia is once again on the front line of war.

Mr Zelensky was due to brief US senators on the situation in his increasingly desperate attempts to secure more funding and military aid.

But he was forced to cancel the event due to a «last minute» glitch, Chuck Schumer said , the Democratic Senate Majority Leader.

However, the night was dominated by intense debate on Capitol Hill, and the briefing quickly devolved into turmoil.

Senate Republicans are making support for additional funding for Ukraine conditional on Joe Biden passing asylum reform and a tighter border. security — measures that Democrats have already rejected.

Mr. Romney was one of many Republicans who left the meeting early. Credit: MICHAEL REYNOLDS/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Mitt Romney, the Republican senator from Utah, insisted there must be «security of our border.»

Mr Romney, who was one of many Republicans to leave the meeting early, said: “There is nothing new in what they are describing, and Republicans are saying there is support for Ukraine, but there must be security for our border.”

Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who has repeatedly expressed support for Ukraine, said Republicans will vote for Ukraine when the issue of “real border security” is resolved. .

“Count me in Ukraine; if we don’t help Ukraine and Putin gets away with it, you will fight with NATO — I understand all this,” he told the publication.

“You will get strong Republican votes for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan if you have real border security to deal with what I consider one of the biggest national security challenges I've seen since I've been here.”< /p >

Democrats accused their Republican colleagues of “holding Ukraine hostage” to their domestic priorities.

Chris Murphy, a Democratic senator from Connecticut, said: “I have a lot of domestic problems that concern me too. . I don't hold Ukraine hostage to solving health care or gun violence.

“They made a choice to jeopardize Ukraine's funding, and they will all have to live with that choice when Vladimir Putin enters the war. Kyiv and on to Europe.»

Mr. Biden said withdrawing support from Ukraine was «contrary to U.S. interests,» adding that «it's just wrong.»

This comes from Janet Yellen, Treasury Secretary says the US will be «responsible for Ukraine's defeat» if Congress does not approve the Biden administration's latest multibillion-dollar funding request for the war-torn country.