Biden Admin Officials Write To Congress Urging Passage Of Ukraine Aid

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and USAID Administrator Samantha Power have written a letter to Congressional leaders urging them to urgently approve USD$11.8 in supplemental funds for Ukraine - part of President Biden's USD$106 billion national security request.

• The letter states: "Direct budget support to Ukraine is inextricably linked to its success on the battlefield in resisting Russia’s illegal invasion... Without adequate and timely direct budget support, Ukraine will be unable to defend itself and thwart Russia’s further encroachment toward NATO countries," adding that the USD$11.8b, "represents the minimum amount needed to help cover Ukraine’s baseline needs"
• The letter warns: "We want to be clear – we do not see a path to securing the funds Ukraine desperately needs without U.S. support at the levels we requested."
• The letter comes as Congress prepares to consider a Continuing Resolution to prevent a government shutdown on November 18. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) appear unlikely to add Ukraine funding to the stopgap measure, leaving the pathway to securing funds uncertain.
• The Senate is currently engaged in a standoff over a Republican plan to condition Ukraine funding on major changes to US-Mexico border policy, with the Washington Post reporting: "If the two parties can’t work it out, the casualty will be $60 billion in aid to Ukraine.”
• More in today's edition of the MNI US Daily Brief.