On 27 February, US President Biden convened an urgent meeting at the White House with congressional leaders to address two pressing issues – providing additional funding for Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion and avoiding a partial federal government shutdown. With a shutdown deadline looming on 2 March, Biden pressed the leaders to break through a deadlocked spending debate, The Washington Post reports.

The US aid to Ukraine has been stalled in Congress for months, benefiting Russia on the battleground as Ukraine’s stocks of artillery munitions and missiles deplete without the much-needed supplies from the US.

US lawmakers have been deadlocked for months on pairing the Ukraine aid with new US immigration restrictions. By the end of 2023, the Pentagon had run out of funding for Ukraine and stopped sending Kyiv weapons and ammunition, which worsened the situation on the front for Ukraine, benefitting Russia.

In Ukraine, security officials say that forces are dangerously low on ammunition as Russia presses renewed attacks. Without quick Congressional action to approve $60+ billion in US military assistance, Russia could gain the upper hand in the war. The capture of the Ukrainian stronghold of Avdiivka earlier this month highlighted the decisive role of US-provided arms in the ongoing war.