It has become routine since Russia invaded Ukraine: President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak by phone as the US announces a new package of military aid for Kiev.
But a phone call between the two leaders in June was different from the previous one, according to four people familiar with the conversation. Biden had only just told Zelenskyy that he had just given the green light for another $1 billion in US military aid to Ukraine when Zelenskyy began listing all the additional aid he needed and was not getting. Biden lost his temper, those familiar with the call said. The American people were quite generous, and his administration and the US military were working hard to help Ukraine, he said in a raised voice, and Zelenskyy could show a little more gratitude.
Government officials said the relationship between Biden and Zelenskyy has only improved since the June phone call, after which Zelenskyy issued a statement praising the US for its generous assistance. But the clash reflects Biden’s early realization that both congressional and public support for sending billions of dollars to Ukraine could begin to fade. That moment has arrived as the president prepares to ask Congress to even green money for Ukraine.
Biden now faces resistance from some Republicans and Democrats who were not present when Congress approved previous Ukrainian funds. The White House has discussed asking Congress for billions of dollars during the lame duck legislative session after the midterm elections.
The White House has not publicly specified an amount. Lawmakers and lobbyists in Ukraine are hoping for $40 billion to $60 billion, and some officials familiar with the discussions expect the number to be around $50 billion.
A source familiar with the conversation said Biden was direct with Zelenskyy about handling the issues through appropriate military channels, but the exchange was not heated or angry.
A spokesman for the National Security Council declined to comment on the story.
A spokesperson for Zelenskyy did not respond to a request for comment.
Top US officials warn there are no signs the war will end anytime soon.
Before the June 15 call, the president’s frustrations with Zelenskyy had been mounting for weeks, three people familiar with the call said. Biden and some of his top aides believed that the government did as much as possible as quickly as possible, but Zelenskyy continued to focus publicly on what wasn’t being done.
From Zelenskyy’s perspective — as well as that of some Eastern European governments and U.S. lawmakers on both sides — there has been repeated frustration that the Biden White House is acting too slowly on gun requests, initially hesitant to approve certain capabilities where Ukraine is most concerned. urgently asked, only to be pressured weeks or months later, according to two sources familiar with the Ukrainian government’s stance, congressmen and two European officials.
After the pushback Zelenskyy received in their June phone call, his team decided to try and ease tensions, concluding that having friction with the US president was not productive, according to two sources familiar with the Ukrainian stance. government, congress staff and two European officials.
Zelenskyy responded publicly that day by thanking Biden for the promised help.
“I had an important conversation with US President Biden today,” he said in videotaped remarks. “I am grateful for this support. It is especially important for our defense in Donbas.”
In his statement following the call, Biden said he informed Zelenskyy of the $1 billion in aid and promised that the US “will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom.”
Efforts to get Ukrainian weapons and equipment have intensified in recent weeks as Ukraine tries to make significant profits before harsh winter temperatures kick in.
The Ukrainian army is focused on driving thousands of Russian troops out of Kherson in an attempt to surround them and retake the southern city from Russian control. The Battle of Kherson could be one of the most dramatic battles in Ukraine since the invasion. If Ukraine succeeds in retaking the area, it could be a major morale boost for Zelenskyy’s forces and a serious blow to Russian troops’ confidence. But if Russia perseveres, it can keep its grip on the south, including the Zaporizhzhya nuclear power plant, through the winter months. “This could be a turning point,” said a defense official.
Concerns over dwindling support for Ukraine are also driving current offensives, according to a defense official and a former official, as Ukraine tries to show momentum on the battlefield to encourage the flow of more weapons.
On October 12, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, a periodic meeting of allies, in Brussels to discuss how more weapons and equipment could get into Ukrainian military hands. While previous meetings have brought aid from munitions to rocket launchers, this month’s meeting took on new urgency, according to three defense officials familiar with the discussions.
“Everyone left,” an official said at the meeting. Countries searched their supplies and warehouses to find anything that could help the Ukrainian military, the official said. “There was an urgency to give them air defense before the winter and everything we could so they can be successful in this current offensive.”
The meeting was so successful that Austin became dizzy when he walked out, two defense officials said.
Ukraine still needs more air defense systems to defend against Russian military aircraft, missiles and drones, and the US continues to discuss providing longer-range missile systems such as the ATACMS and even some advanced fighter aircraft in the future.
According to a Pew Research Center survey released last month, the proportion of Americans extremely or very concerned about Ukraine losing the war has fallen 17 percentage points, from 55% to 38%. And the proportion of Americans who say they are not too concerned or not at all concerned about Russia’s victory has risen from 16% to 26%, according to the survey.
The potential change in the political will in the US to continue sending aid to Ukraine could change the way both the White House and Zelenskyy have approached the issue thus far.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February, the Biden administration has been criticized for being too cautious. Now the president faces potential backlash from some Republican lawmakers and progressive Democrats for offering too much help.
The changing dynamics on Capitol Hill could also force Zelenskyy’s team to rethink how it handles Washington, as it has often tried to leverage its support in Congress to get more out of the White House.
This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
