WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Monday urged the U.S. House of Representatives to immediately accept Senate-passed additional funding for Ukraine and Israel as he hosted Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the Oval Office.
The visit came as Biden aimed to highlight efforts by other countries to support Ukraine. This followed the Czech government’s announcement that it would send 1 million artillery rounds to Ukraine, which kyiv says is much needed on the battlefield against the Russian invasion.
“As the Czech Republic remembers, Russia will not stop at Ukraine,” Biden said. He called on Congress to approve the additional funding so that the United States can contribute its share of aid to Ukraine. “They have to do it now,” Biden said.
Fiala praised the US president for his leadership on Ukraine, adding: “We are also doing our best.”
He said: “In 1968 I saw Russian tanks on the streets of my town and I don’t want to see that again. »
Biden called the Czech Republican a “great ally” within NATO, while Fiala said his country’s decision to buy F-35 fighter jets from the United States “will make our cooperation and security much stronger.”
Fiala told reporters after his interview with Biden that he would meet with lawmakers at the Capitol on Tuesday to further discuss aid to Ukraine.
“The support and help from the United States is very important,” Fiala said.