Joe Biden and top US lawmakers hold ‘intense’ Ukraine talks at White House
- Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson said there was ‘optimism’ about avoiding a US government shutdown, but no deal was reached on military aid for Kyiv
- Congress faces a Friday deadline to agree on a spending package before money for various US agencies runs out
US President Joe Biden and top Democrats and Republicans in Congress on Tuesday made progress toward avoiding a partial government shutdown at the end of the week, but have not cut a deal on paying for weapons for Ukraine’s battle against Russia.
“We’ve got a lot of work to do,” Biden said as the meeting opened in the Oval Office, with Vice-President Kamala Harris at his side and the two top congressional Democrats and two top Republicans sitting on couches nearby.
About an hour later, there was optimism that a government shutdown will be avoided. “We will get the government funded,” Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters outside the White House.
Almost two months ago, Johnson and Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer agreed on a US$1.59 trillion discretionary spending level for the financial year that began on October 1.
But political infighting by Republicans who control the House of Representatives by a thin majority has made it hard for Johnson to pass funding bills.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Schumer said it was one of the most intense meetings he has ever been a part of, as the Democrats sought to persuade Johnson to agree to funding Ukraine.