This was mentioned last week as a distinct possibility- Well over 2 billion dollars
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said on Sunday that the Biden administration hopes to push a new weapons package for Israel and Ukraine through Congress that will be significantly higher than $2 billion.
Sullivan, in an interview on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” said US President Joe Biden will have intensive talks with the US Congress this week on the need for the package to be approved.
Republicans’ struggles to pick a speaker for the House of Representatives after party hardliners ousted Kevin McCarthy nearly two weeks ago has delayed action on legislation, as Israel prepares a ground war against Hamas in Gaza and US officials warn the regional crisis could escalate.
Biden has been considering a budget request lumping together aid for Israel, Ukraine and possibly Taiwan and the US southern border to improve the chances of getting it approved amid calls from some Republicans to cut money for Kyiv.
Asked whether the request would be for $2 billion, as has been previously reported, Sullivan said: “Well, the number is going to be significantly higher than that, but it will, as I said, certainly include the necessary military equipment to defend freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity in Ukraine, and to help Israel defend itself as it fights its terrorist threat.”
Significantly higher than 2 billion dollars