The standstill in the U.S. Congress preventing a US$95.3-billion aid package from being approved is 鈥渉aving an impact,鈥� but American Ambassador to Canada David Cohen insists the aid will get to Ukraine.
鈥淭he delay is having an impact, period,鈥� Cohen told CTV鈥檚 Question Period host Vassy Kapelos in an interview airing Sunday, echoing statements made by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg this week.
The aid package 鈥� which, if approved, would go to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan 鈥� has been passed in the Senate, but stalled before Congress.
U.S. President Joe Biden this week urged Congress to approve the funds, saying 鈥渟upporting this bill is standing up to Putin,鈥� and 鈥渙pposing it is playing into Putin鈥檚 hands.鈥�
Meanwhile, Russia鈥檚 invasion of Ukraine is nearing the two-year mark.
鈥淭his is not a partisan issue in the United States,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淟ook at what happened in the United States Senate, a very significant multi-year aid package for Ukraine, for Israel, for Taiwan, with 70 votes, a total bipartisan effort led by Republican Mitch McConnell and by Democrat Chuck Schumer.鈥�
鈥淲hat everyone is saying is right, which is if that package gets on the floor of the House, it will pass with a bipartisan vote,鈥� he added.
Cohen also said the United States under Biden has taken on a 鈥渓eadership position鈥� when it comes to aid for Ukraine, and 鈥渨hat has (already) been delivered is remarkable.鈥�
When asked what message Putin should take from the delay in approving the aid package, the ambassador said the Russian president is 鈥渟mart enough to know that he shouldn't take any comfort from the difficulty of the democratic process,鈥� adding that domestic 鈥減olitical fissures鈥� in the United States have 鈥渘othing to do with Russia or Ukraine.鈥�
鈥淎nd that is one of the prices we pay for democracy, it can sometimes be a little ugly,鈥� Cohen said. 鈥淏ut I do believe that ultimately, democracy gets to the right answer.鈥�
鈥淎nd the right answer here is going to be continuing support for Ukraine for as long as it takes,鈥� he added.
Cohen鈥檚 interview comes on the heels of news that Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny 鈥� Russian President Vladimir Putin鈥檚 fiercest critic 鈥� died in prison.
The 47-year-old was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism.
Cohen said Navalny鈥檚 death is a 鈥渟tark reminder of just how evil and dangerous Vladimir Putin is,鈥� while adding the U.S. has not independently confirmed the news.
鈥淲e're operating on media reports,鈥� he said. 鈥淏ut if true, I have to start with what a terrible loss this is, and a terrible loss to his family, and would extend my condolences and my country's condolences to his family.
鈥淎nd I think it's another example of the brutality of Vladimir Putin. It's another example of what is so important about pushing back on Russia, and on Putin,鈥� he added.
With files from CTV鈥檚 Question Period Senior Producer Stephanie Ha
