Biden apologizes to Zelensky for delay in approving Ukraine aid package
U.S. President Joe Biden, right, meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, France, on June 7. (Photo: Evan Vucci/AP).
US President Joe Biden apologized to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, for the delay earlier this year in approving a new military aid package, which was slowed by Republican opposition in Congress.
Biden apologized when announcing a new aid package to Ukraine this Friday in a bilateral meeting with Zelensky.
“You know, you have not bowed down, you have not given in at all, you continue to fight in a way that is simply extraordinary, is simply extraordinary, and we are not going to back away from you,” Biden told Ukraine’s president.
“I apologize for the weeks of not knowing what’s going to pass, in terms of funding, because we had trouble passing the bill that had money from some of our very conservative members who were holding it up, but we got it done.”
Biden took the opportunity to highlight Friday’s funding announcement, as well as the additional funding that has come to Ukraine since he signed the supplement in April.
“Since then, including today, I have announced six significant funding packages; today I am also signing an additional $225 million package to help you rebuild the power grid,” he said.
