NSA Sullivan: Biden Won't Accept GOP Holding Ukraine Aid "Hostage"

Wires carrying comments from White House National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, stating that President Biden is, "prepared to find resolution on [US-Mexico] border issue, but won’t accept holding Ukraine aid hostage for ‘take it or leave it deal.’"

• Sullivan says, "failure to fund Ukraine will result in specific deterioration of Ukraine's ability to defend itself," and "harm Ukraine's ability to hold territory."
• Sullivan's comments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes a last-ditch bid in Washington to convince lawmakers to approve a new funding for Ukraine, currently stalled amid intractable negotiations over US-Mexico border policy.
• Zelenskyy is expected to meet with US Senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) this morning before meeting bilaterally with President Biden at 14:15 ET 19:15 GMT. Biden and Zelenskyy will then hold a presser at 16:15 ET 21:15 GMT.
• Republicans see the necessity of Ukraine aid as a major vulnerability for the White House which can compel significant concessions on the border - an asymmetry which suggests the GOP is unlikley to move away from a hardline position.
• The equation now appears relatively straightforward. Pro-Ukraine sentiment is waning sharply amongst Congressional Republicans, but they will likely support fresh funding if it comes with major border policy concessions.
• Biden must decide if funding Ukraine’s war effort, which the Administration considers a critical national security priority, trumps the concerns of progressive Democrats and risk of a further collapse of support amongst Democrats ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
• Full roundup in today's edition of the MNI US Daily Brief.