Biden administration will continue to work with Congress on passing Ukraine aid package - Harris

The administration of U.S. President Joe Biden will continue to work with Congress to pass an aid package for Ukraine . The United States is committed to its NATO allies, and the Alliance is stronger than ever, with its eastern flank in Europe significantly strengthened by the presence of U.S. forces.

This was stated by US Vice President Kamala Harris in her speech at the Munich Security Conference. "With the support of bipartisan majorities in both houses of the U.S. Congress, we will work to provide the critical weapons and resources that Ukraine needs," she said.

Harris recalled that two years ago, on the eve of Russia's full-scale attack on Ukraine, she also took part in the Munich Conference.

"Many thought that Kyiv would fall in a matter of days. Despite this, Ukraine's skills and courage, along with the leadership of President Zelenskyy and the US-led coalition of 50 nations, allowed Ukraine to achieve what many thought was impossible. Today, Kyiv is free and strong," she said.

The U.S. Vice President added that the war waged by Russian President Vladimir Putin has already become "a clear failure for Russia" as Ukraine has regained more than half of the territories seized by the enemy, and Russia has suffered significant losses.

"We have also made Russia bear the economic costs of its aggression. And together with our partners in the Group of Seven, we have frozen Russia's sovereign assets and made it clear that Russia must pay for the damage it has caused to Ukraine. I welcome the EU's recent decision to provide $54 billion in support for Ukraine, in addition to the more than $100 billion that our European allies and partners have already committed," she said.

According to Harris, the United States' commitment to its NATO allies is "central" to its approach to global security.

"And I believe, as I've said before, that NATO is the greatest military alliance the world has ever had," she said.

The Vice President recalled that Article 5 of the NATO Charter on collective defense was invoked only once - after al-Qaeda attack on September 11, 2001 - "and NATO stood by the United States."

Today, NATO is stronger than ever, and its eastern flank in Europe has been significantly strengthened, including by the presence of U.S. forces. However, European partners are also fulfilling their part of the commitment and are increasingly meeting the goal of spending at least 2% of GDP on defense.

Harris added that the role of global leader for the United States, cooperation with partners, and the fight for democracy in the country and the world are in the interests of all Americans. And the Biden administration's approach is not "charity," it is in Washington's strategic interests, as it protects Americans, supports jobs, and strengthens supply chains.

"Imagine if America turned its back on Ukraine, abandoned our NATO allies, and backed away from our obligations under the NATO Charter. Imagine how we would have treated Putin lightly or even encouraged him. History tells us the answer. If you do nothing while an aggressor invades your neighbor with impunity, he will move on. And in Putin's case, this means that the whole of Europe will be in danger," the Vice President warned.

According to her, when America "isolated itself, the threats only increased," so the United States is obliged to support democracy, defend international rules and norms, and support its friends and allies. This represents America's ideals.

"And the American people know that this is what makes us strong. So make no mistake. The American people will do this and America will continue to be a leader," Harris summarized.

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