By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is addressing Congress on Wednesday after the Senate approved a massive spending package that sends $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine.
On the heels of the speech, Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) said more could be done to help Ukraine amide the invasion by Russian troops.
“Military experts at the beginning of this thing told us weeks ago it was a matter of days before Kyiv (Ukraine’s capital) fell,” Illinois’ Senior Senator told WJBC’s, Scott Miller. “The Russians had so many troops poised to come into that country. Now we get the message last night that (Russian President) Putin is reaching out to the Chinese saying, ‘can you provide food to our troops. Food for goodness sakes.’ It tells you that this vaunted military machine of Putin has met its match at least for the moment, and I underline for the moment in Ukraine.”
According to Durbin, if China wants to become a national power, Chinese President Xi Jinping must decide what his country supports.
“If they’re going to hook up with Vladimir Putin’s notion that you can invade any country you wish, it’s not going to help them become a mainstream nation in the world.”
LISTEN: Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke with WJBC’s Scott Miller.
The spending package includes money for defense assistance, economic support, and humanitarian aid.
In the U.S., the new spending package includes a 6.7% increase for nondefense spending along with a 5.6% increase in defense spending over the current levels.
Blake Haas can be reached at [email protected].
