The United States has pledged to support Ukraine in its defense against Russia for “as long as it takes,” according to White House national security spokesman John Kirby. Kirby made the remarks on “Fox News Sunday” in response to calls from Republican lawmakers to provide a timeline for the end of the multi-billion-dollar commitment.
Kirby stated that the conflict, which is about to enter its second year, could end as soon as Russian President Vladimir Putin withdraws his invading forces. He added that it is up to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to decide when is the right time for peace talks.
When asked if there will be more rounds of billion-dollar Ukrainian aid to come, Kirby replied, “We don’t know.” He noted that the United States wants to see the conflict end on terms that are satisfactory to the Ukrainian people and to President Zelenskyy so that they remain a whole, free, sovereign, and independent state.
Some Republican members of Congress have expressed concerns about accountability, questioning whether the more than $100 billion in taxpayer dollars sent to Ukraine over the past year is actually being spent in Americans’ best interests. As such, a group of senators wrote a letter to White House Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young demanding a report on the total amount of funding provided to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden will travel to Poland from Feb. 20 to Feb. 22, where he will meet leaders of countries on NATO’s eastern front and reiterate the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes.”