Harris says ‘there is only Plan A’ on Ukraine aid currently stalled in Congress : NPR

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vice President Harris arrive at a press conference at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Wolfgang Rattay/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

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Wolfgang Rattay/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vice President Harris arrive at a press conference at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday.

Wolfgang Rattay/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

MUNICH — Vice President Harris said on Saturday that there was no backup plan for giving Ukraine weapons and funding if a package of aid fails to advance in the U.S. House of Representatives.

“There’s only Plan A, which is to ensure that Ukraine receives what it needs,” Harris said after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The two leaders met on the sidelines of the annual Munich Security Conference, where the stalled Ukraine aid has fueled European concerns about whether they can rely on the United States as a partner.

Harris was at the conference to try to reassure allies. “We are unwavering and that has nothing to do with an election cycle — it has to do with who we are and what kind of country we want to be — one that stands with our friends,” she said.

It’s unclear if or when the aid will advance in the House

Congress approved more than $112 billion for aid to Ukraine in 2022. In October, President Biden asked for about $60 billion more as part of a broad national security package. The Senate approved the request earlier this month.

But in Washington, it is unclear if or when the aid will advance in the House of Representatives. Former President Donald Trump, who is the frontrunner to become the Republican nominee for this year’s presidential election, opposes the package, and House Speaker Mike Johnson has been noncommittal about bringing it forward for a vote.

Zelenskyy acknowledged the “electoral, internal, political” challenges inside the United States, but said there was “no alternative” for Ukraine to having Washington as its partner.

He said so much depends on “this single voting procedure” in Congress, and described how U.S.-supplied Patriot missiles were allowing his country’s economy to keep functioning.

“We are counting on this positive decision of the Congress,” he said. “For us, this package is vital.”