'No one believes this rubbish': Biden slammed for blaming 'congressional inaction' for Ukraine city fall

REHOBOTH BEACH, DELAWARE: President Joe Biden sparked quite a backlash on social media following his comments on the recent fall of the Ukrainian city of Avdiivka to Russian forces, attributing the setback to the "absurd" failure of US lawmakers to approve emergency aid to Ukraine.

The President warned that without immediate assistance, other Ukrainian towns might suffer a similar fate, escalating the already dire situation in the region.

Urgent Call for Support

In a press briefing on Saturday, February 17, President Biden, 81, said, "There's so much on the line."

“The idea that now we’re running out of ammunition — to walk away, I find it absurd. I find it unethical,” Biden continued, condemning the delay in providing support to Ukraine's ongoing war effort, particularly in light of Congress's inability to authorize additional funding to bolster its defenses.

"I'm going to fight to get them the ammunition they need," Biden declared while speaking near his vacation home in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.

He said he was not confident regarding the ability of Ukrainian forces to hold off further advances by Russian troops in the absence of immediate assistance from the United States. “I’m not. I’m not. No one can be,” he said. “The Ukrainian people have fought so bravely and heroically.”

Biden further revealed that he had personally reassured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of America's commitment to providing the necessary aid, despite congressional delays.  “I spoke with Zelensky this afternoon to let him know I’m confident we’re going to get that money,” he said. “There is so much at stake.”

Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for Biden's National Security Council, minced no words in attributing Avdiivka's fall to "congressional inaction." The gravity of the situation was also underscored during Zelensky's meetings with US officials at the Munich Security Conference, where Ukraine's precarious position remained a focal point of discussions.

Divided Congress

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner (R-Ohio), who participated in the summit, relayed Zelensky's concerns about the potential ramifications of delayed aid.

“Zelensky, of course, did not blame his current situation or what occurred [Saturday] on the delay that’s occurring,” Turner told NBC’s 'Meet the Press'. “He did indicate that he’s certainly worried that the delay could cause a gap in weapons getting to the Ukraine.”

Despite President Biden's earlier request for additional aid to Ukraine in August, lawmakers have remained deadlocked for over seven months on the issue.

While the Senate recently passed a $95 billion package, allocating a significant portion for Ukraine, House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has signaled reluctance to take up the proposal without linking it to stricter US border security measures.

The internal divisions within the Republican Party over the issue have further complicated efforts to advance the legislation, leaving Ukraine grappling with dwindling resources on the battlefield as Russian forces continue to advance.

With the second anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine looming on February 24, the urgency of the situation cannot be overstated. Efforts to bridge the gap between the White House and Congress have been met with obstacles, with Johnson's request for a meeting with President Biden going unanswered.

“What is there to negotiate?” White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said last week. “He’s negotiating with himself.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) has hinted at the possibility of circumventing Johnson's resistance through a discharge petition, the New York Post reported.

Social media criticism

However, President Biden faced criticism on social media following his remarks, with some users dismissing his statements as "nonsense".

"Such nonsense. No one believes this rubbish," one posted on X.

"No Joe, it's all your fault," another alleged.

"American cities are falling and no aid in sight," someone else offered.

"Secure America’s borders," a comment read.

"Why don’t you try putting your country first for a while and see how that goes might be pleasantly surprised," another chimed in.

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