Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pleaded for life-or-death aid to continue his country's fight against Russia. At a private briefing, he told senators that his citizens would resort to guerrilla war if support dried up.
The president met with Senate leaders, House Speaker Mike Johnson, and held a briefing for all senators in an extraordinary lobbying campaign amid waning support for the Biden administration's policy of strengthen Ukraine.
“The president did mention guerrilla warfare at some point, if he doesn't get the kind of support — if it's downgraded (to) that point,” Senator Ron Johnson of Wisconsin told a group of reporters after the meeting.
“I mean, Putin would face a protracted guerrilla war in whatever parts of Ukraine you would occupy, which may not be particularly attractive to him,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (C) walks with US Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R) and US Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (L) in the US Senate. He met with senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson to argue for continued U.S. support
Biden has proposed a $61 billion relief package, but Republicans in the House of Representatives and Senate are rallying around demands for changes in border policy. They note that Biden included Border Requests in his request for additional relief funds.
'I know everyone wants Ukraine to win. I just don't see that reflected in the cards,” Johnson said in some of the more pessimistic comments to emerge from the meeting. “No matter how evil Putin is, no matter how damaged Ukraine is, you have to look at the reality of the situation. “Ukraine cannot do what it should do to bring Russia to its knees,” he said.
He said if lawmakers “really think this is such a big point in history and so essential to providing Ukraine ($61 billion) in aid, they should look at the clear and present danger of our unsafe border or open border and have to solve that. We would be doing them a huge political favor if we forced them to do so.”
“It boggles my mind that they don't understand how dangerous it is for America to have that open border and, frankly, what a political liability it is. There has to be a deal here,” he added.
The two issues are now firmly linked. “There won't be any help for Ukraine if we don't have a border deal,” said Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), calling on pro-Ukrainian Democrats to “speak most forcefully” for a border deal.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who has been a cheerleader for support for Ukraine, was more optimistic — but also made his own call for border aid.
'I mean they won't lose the war. “With our help, they will do very well,” he said. “I told President Zelensky that I have never been more concerned about September 11 than I am now. The FBI director warned us that we have a combination that is deadly.”
Zelensky told senators that Ukrainians would wage a guerrilla war against Russia if they had to and if massive US support stopped
He said a “rogue gang of terrorist groups wants to attack America because we are helping Israel and he is concerned about the status of the border.”
“We're miles apart,” Graham said. “The only reason we don't have a deal is because they refuse to make the policy changes that will gain control of the border.”
Graham said the Ukrainians were not giving up. 'They will fight to the last person. This will go on for decades,” he said.
Grassley also invoked guerrilla war when DailyMail.com asked him about the worst-case scenario for Ukraine if US support were to dry up.
“Instead of people fighting on the front lines, you will have Ukrainians fighting a guerrilla war.”
“Of course that's not okay,” he said, asking about that possible outcome.
President Biden signaled a willingness to reach an agreement with Republicans on border funding, but Republicans say the administration won't give in to their push for policy gains. The Biden administration says it is running out of supplies the US can deliver to Ukraine.
'The day we get those policy changes. We're going to have a big vote in the Senate and I think there's enough in the House of Representatives,” Graham predicted.
As for the Ukrainians, 'they will continue to fight forever, but they don't just need the money and help that we are going to give them. They need more weapons, weapons with longer range,” he said.
Zelenskiy, who has advocated for aid in foreign capitals around the world, continues to make urgent appeals.
“It's a matter of life and death for Ukraine,” a senior adviser told the Washington Post, describing his pitch. 'Time is of the essence: that is the message.'
Outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he thinks the administration understands that “policy changes” need to happen on border policy. And he said Congress should remain in town until the Ukraine border issue is resolved.
“I don't think we should leave until we get this,” he said.