Biden’s man vows more help coming for Ukraine despite US gridlock

In a surprise visit to Kyiv, U.S. Presidential Security Advisor Jake Sullivan urged Ukraine to believe in the U.S. and expressed confidence Congress will vote for supplemental aid

KYIV – U.S. President Joe Biden’s National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan made a surprise visit to Kyiv to “check the clocks” and assure Ukraine that it can still rely on the U.S. as a powerful ally.

His visit came just a day after a meeting of Ukraine’s Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, and with Congress still refusing to vote through a $60 billion emergency aid bill. Many remain concerned that former U.S. President Donald Trump could reduce assistance to Ukraine if re-elected.

“We will get a strong bipartisan vote in Congress. We will get that money to you as we should, so I don’t think we need to speak about Plan B today,” Sullivan said during a Kyiv press conference on Wednesday.

Acknowledging that the new funds are taking “too long” to arrive, he added: “I don’t have any predictions on when exactly this will be done, but we are working to get it done as soon as possible. President Biden is working on this on a daily basis to try to deliver this package through [the] house but I cannot make any specific predictions.”

The last time Sullivan came to Kyiv was with Biden in February 2023. However, he and the head of Ukraine’s Presidential Office, Andriy Yermak, communicate almost daily.

Speaking alongside Sullivan, Yermak said: “I once again heard from Mr. Sullivan that the US supports Ukraine. We know that the Biden administration does everything possible for the so-necessary $60 billion aid bill to be adopted. I also want to say our strategic partner even in this situation finds a way to help us. We got $300 million in military aid last week.”

Yermak was referring to a package of ammunition, air defenses and other critical supplies that are urgently needed on the frontlines. “Those supplies rush to you as we speak,” Sullivan said.

Ukraine is not the only party in the war using foreign-made weapons. As reporters were waiting for the press conference to start, guards carried a large, black Iran-made Shahed drone through an adjoining corridor.

“We have stood by your side since the war began, we have provided enormous support and we will continue to do so in every way possible,” Sullivan said. “You rightly deserve it … we are confident that we will get this aid to Ukraine.”

Sullivan said the U.S. has a clear understanding that Ukraine should win the war and emerge from it strong and prosperous. As an ally, the U.S. should ensure that Ukraine can stand not just free and independent, he added, but safe and secure from future Russian aggression.

However, Sullivan did not announce new specific aid packages in Kyiv, and did not confirm rumors the U.S. might soon send long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.

“ATACMS, I am going to disappoint you, I have nothing to announce here publicly today on that issue. When we do have something to share we will be sure to share it, but we will say that we had very constructive discussions about our military support and our capabilities,” Sullivan said.

Biden came up with the $60 billion aid initiative for Ukraine in August, but it has since become stuck in Congress, tied to domestic border security funding, with Republicans refusing to move it through. It is believed there are enough votes for the aid in Congress, but the party’s leadership is holding it up.