The European Union’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, stated on Thursday that Europe cannot replace the United States’ support for Ukraine after the political crisis in Washington raised questions about continued American financial aid.
The infighting in Washington that has called into question continued support for Ukraine is “bad news,” Borrell said, expressing hope that aid would eventually continue despite tensions within the U.S. political system.
“Obviously, Europe cannot replace the U.S.,” Borrell said on arrival in Granada in southern Spain for the European Political Community (EPC) summit, which is a forum designed to promote cooperation between nearly 50 countries set up after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
EU High Representative Josep Borrell has expressed hope that the United States will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against what he said was Russian aggression, Ukrinform reports.
Referring to the ouster of former Speaker of the House Keven McCarthy, which raises new difficulties for Ukraine to secure funding from the U.S., the European diplomat said, “This was certainly not expected and certainly not good news.”
Borrell said he expects that this will not become the final U.S. position and that ways will be found to further support Ukraine, according to Hungarian news outlet Ziare.
“Ukraine needs the support of the European Union, which is there and we will increase it. But it also needs the support of the United States,” the head of European diplomacy noted.
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed concern on Wednesday that his country’s aid to Ukraine could be affected by the current chaos in Congress, but said he sees a way forward for aid to continue.
The U.S. president added that he would present the new path soon in a “major speech” to emphasize the importance of supporting Ukraine to defeat Russia.
In Kyiv, officials do not know what could happen next.
“We are scared. It’s a disaster for us,” said Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, a senior Ukrainian lawmaker who chairs the committee on the country’s integration into the European Union, according to Politico. While heavy fighting is reported on the southern Ukrainian front, with neither side gaining ground, the United States has transferred to Ukraine 1.1 million rounds of AK-47 rifle ammunition it seized from Iran.
