Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sent a request to Tel Aviv to coordinate a trip to Israel in a show of support. The White House is trying to unify the wars in Israel and Ukraine by pushing a spending bill that includes aid for Kiev, Tel Aviv, Taipei, and funding for the border wall.
On Wednesday, Axios spoke with Israeli and Ukrainian officials who confirmed that Zelensky requested Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office work with Kiev to set up the trip.
Hamas attacked Israel from Gaza on Saturday, leaving over 1,000 dead. Tel Aviv responded with a massive bombing campaign of the besieged Gaza Strip, killing over 1,000 in the first few days of attacks. Netanyahu’s administration has also cut off food, water, and fuel to Gaza, which human rights groups have deemed an “open-air prison.”
Zelensky issued a series of statements voicing support for Tel Aviv and condemning Hamas for the war in Israel. Tel Aviv has resisted pressure from Washington to give more support to Kiev in its 20-month-long war against Russia. In the first month of the war, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett used Tel Aviv’s relationships with Kiev and Moscow to host negotiations that nearly ended the war until the White House scuttled the diplomacy.
NBC News reported that Biden administration officials confirmed they were holding private meetings with Congress about introducing a new spending bill that links aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and funds US border security. The legislation will additionally provide the Pentagon with funding to restock US arms depots depleted by weapons transfers to Kiev.
The White House has been pushing Congress to pass a $24 billion aid package for Ukraine that includes $17 billion in security assistance. The Biden administration is also considering a $100 billion aid package for Kiev that is meant to provide aid to Ukraine through the 2024 election.
A small group of Republicans in the House have pledged not to vote for any more funding for Kiev. Those legislators prevented the House from passing Ukraine aid in a bill that funded the US government. It appears the Biden administration is trying to break that commitment as most of those representatives have voiced strong support for border security, Israel, and Taiwan.
