Russian President Vladimir Putin believes his forces can capitalize on Congress’s inability to pass a new aid package that would include assistance to Ukraine, according to the White House.
President Joe Biden first unveiled his supplemental funding package that included more than $60 billion of aid to Ukraine back in October, while the Pentagon has not been able to provide Ukraine with aid from previously allocated funds since the end of 2023. Ukraine withdrew from the eastern city of Avdiivka last week after facing ammunition shortages in what U.S. officials have warned could be the start of a new wave of Russian successes on the front lines.
“Do not think for a moment that Vladimir Putin isn’t capitalizing on all of this,” White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters on Thursday. “Yup, he’s been deepening his relationship with Iran now for many months, but the potential pursuit of ballistic missiles with a range and destructive power that they can bring is further evidence that he believes Congress will not act.”
Putin “clearly believes now is his best chance to bring Ukraine to its knees, that now is the time to strike deeper behind their lines destroying military bases and military units and their defense industry,” he added.
Russian officials are continuing conversations with allies for additional military aid, particularly Iran. The two sides have discussed the possibility that Tehran would provide Moscow with ballistic missiles, though the U.S. has not seen a transfer take place yet. Should it happen though, the U.S. would impose additional sanctions and pursue a global response.
Reuters reported, citing anonymous Iranian officials, that Iran has provided Russia with approximately 400 ballistic missiles through at least four shipments dating back to early January.
A U.S. official described to the Washington Examiner the talks over a ballistic missile deal as “actively advancing,” but reiterated, “We have not yet seen any evidence of the missiles actually being transferred to Russia.”
“If Iran proceeds with this provision of ballistic missiles, I can assure you that the response from the international community will be swift and it will be severe,” Kirby added. “For our part, we will take this matter to the U.N. Security Council. We will implement additional sanctions against Iran. And we will coordinate further response options with our allies in Europe and elsewhere.”
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Iran provided Russia with hundreds of one-way attack drones over the course of the war that they have used to target Ukrainian infrastructure.
The Biden administration has said throughout the course of the war that they would support Ukraine “for as long as it takes,” though Congress has put that promise to the test.