Biden Administration Urges Urgent Approval of Ukraine Funding in Response to Navalny's Death

The Biden administration and Capitol Hill leaders are urging urgent approval of Ukraine funding, citing the death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny as a turning point to confront Vladimir Putin. Navalny’s death triggered renewed calls to pass stalled Ukraine aid, as the Pentagon warned of the dire consequences of delaying funding. The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, but the House has stalled a vote on the measure.

The Pentagon stressed the high cost of inaction on Ukraine and the urgent need for more funding from Congress, as Ukraine advocates on the Hill emphasized the importance of standing with the Ukrainian people against Russian aggression. Despite the fresh attention and urgency on passing Ukraine aid, it’s unclear whether it will move hardliners who insist on prioritizing the border crisis. House Speaker Mike Johnson advocated for border security measures to be added to the bill after GOP senators forced a border deal out of the package, sparking bipartisan pressure to act. A $66 billion alternative proposal was unveiled by a bipartisan group of House lawmakers, including military funding for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, dropping the humanitarian aid from the Senate version and including border security provisions favored by Republicans. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Michael McCaul anticipates action on a supplemental funding bill in March to assist Kyiv with a planned counteroffensive in April.