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Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has expressed strong criticism towards Congress for not providing additional aid to Ukraine amidst its conflict with Russia.
During a meeting with German Economy Minister Robert Habeck, Yellen emphasized the importance of the House passing the Senate’s proposed $95 billion foreign aid package, which allocates $60 billion specifically for Ukraine. Highlighting the urgency, she said, “As the House continues to stall, Russia is gaining ground, and Ukraine is being forced to ration ammunition and supplies. Congressional inaction is nothing short of a gift to Putin, Iran, and other adversaries that stand against America and its allies.”
The Treasury Secretary also referenced the recent death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, noting that there were global implications to Congress’s “inaction.” She said, “Last week, we witnessed the courage of thousands of Russian people who stood up to Putin and took to the streets to mourn the death of Alexei Navalny. The House must act and show the strength of the U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of Putin’s aggression.”
Navalny, a prominent critic of Putin who recently died in a high-security penal colony, has become a symbol of resistance against the Russian government.
This call to action comes as aid for Ukraine remains stalled due to divisions within Congress, with the last funding package approved at the end of 2022. Efforts to pass new funding for Ukraine have been complicated by debates over border security, leading to a bipartisan agreement in the Senate that faced opposition and ultimately failed.
The $95 billion aid package approved by the Senate is now held up in the House, where Speaker Mike Johnson has indicated unwillingness to proceed without the inclusion of border security measures.
