• Biden has asked Congress for more than $100 billion to fund several conflicts 
  • He accused Republicans of ‘kneecapping’ Ukrainian troops with their delays 
  • Slams ‘extreme’ Republicans for ‘playing chicken’ with national security by holding Kyiv aid ‘hostage’ over the southern border

President Joe Biden on Wednesday warned that American troops could have to fight Russian forces if Congress prevents further aid being sent to Ukraine.

He demanded that lawmakers approve his request for tens of billions in military and economic assistance.

Republicans have said they are not willing to countenance another major package of aid unless the administration takes action on the southern border.

But Biden said Republicans were handing Russian President Vladimir Putin a gift.

‘This cannot wait,’ he said in a televised address.

‘Congress needs to pass supplemental funding for Ukraine before they break for the holiday recess, simple as that, frankly.’

His administration is warning of dire consequences for Kyiv if lawmakers don’t act to keep support flowing and European allies are increasingly alarmed at the consequences for democracy in their backyard.

Biden reeled off the abuses committed by Putin and his troops in Ukraine and warned that Russia would not be content stopping there.

‘It’s important to see the long run here. He’s gonna keep going. He’s made that pretty clear,’ he said.

‘If Putin attacks a NATO ally, if he keeps going and then he attacks a NATO ally, when we’ve committed as a NATO member to defend every inch of NATO territory, then we’ll have something that we don’t seek and that we don’t have today: American troops fighting Russian troops.’

He accused Republicans of holding aid ‘hostage’ over the border and of being willing to ‘kneecap’ Ukrainian forces on the battlefield

‘Republicans in Congress are willing to give Putin the greatest gift he could hope for,’ he said, adding that any delay in sending aid would strengthen the Russian president’s position.

But he hinted that he was ready to do a deal with Republicans, even if they would have to accept they were not going to get everything they wanted.

‘This has to be a negotiation,’ he said.

Biden’s speech came soon after he held a video call with leaders of the Group of Seven advanced democracies, who have all backed Ukraine, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.