During a briefing with reporters, White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre declined to disclose the specifics of the agreement President Joe Biden reached with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy about Ukraine. The briefing was broadcast on the White House YouTube channel.
She stated that she would not discuss beyond what the president has already said.
Journalists pressed repeatedly to confirm whether the agreement was real and whether Jean-Pierre would affirm that the president was being truthful about Ukraine. The spokesperson did not offer a concrete confirmation.
She acknowledged bipartisan support for Ukraine and expressed appreciation for that backing, emphasizing that it remains evident in public sentiment and congressional action.
As Biden announced in the backdrop of a pending interim spending plan on October 1, aid to Ukraine and to U.S. allies would not be halted. He noted that the majority of members of Congress continue to back funding for Ukraine.
A day earlier, the president signed a law extending funding for the federal government by 45 days, a measure that did not include new aid to Ukraine. On that same day, the House of Representatives rejected a plan to finance the government’s operations through October 31, 2023. The White House and the Senate voiced opposition to the House’s position, while protests from the legislative branches were noted as part of ongoing budget negotiations.
The exchange also touched on remarks from Putin, who joked about Russia’s top leadership during the proceedings, a moment that framed the broader context of the discussion around Ukraine funding and international stability.
In summary, officials highlighted persistent bipartisan support for Ukraine while navigating a tense funding environment and ongoing negotiations between the executive branch and Congress. Attribution: White House press briefings and public statements.