WASHINGTON — President Biden spoke on the phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Thursday, ahead of a primetime Oval Office speech in which he reportedly will seek $60 billion for Ukraine by hitching it to a $10 billion emergency request for Israel.
Biden’s plan to request six times as much aid for Ukraine and to couple it with more popular aid to Israel was reported by Reuters, the New York Times and Politico.
The Post could not independently confirm the amount Biden will seek for Israel as the package is finalized but confirmed the president will seek $60 billion for Ukraine’s continued defense against Russia’s stalemated 20-month invasion.
The White House said that Biden, who visited Israel on Wednesday in a show of support after Hamas terrorists slaughtered 1,400 people and abducted about 200 others on Oct. 7, “held a call with [Zelensky] ahead of his remarks tonight to discuss the United States’ continued commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst Russia’s brutal war.”
Biden will seek to use the bully pulpit — and his second Oval Office primetime address — to try to link the easier-to-pass Israel aid to much more contentious Ukraine war funding by arguing both countries are democracies in need of American support.
But the plan roiled Republican critics who argued that aid for Israel is needed immediately and that more oversight is needed for the $113 billion in Ukraine war funding already approved by Congress and still being dispensed.
At least 32 Americans died in Hamas attacks in southern Israel and 11 remain missing. The terrorist group has threatened to murder hostages on camera in response to Israel’s anticipated military response to remove Hamas from power in Gaza.
Biden in August requested a more meager $20.6 billion in new Ukraine funding, but Congress balked.
Nine GOP senators signed a letter first reported by The Post Thursday calling on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to consider Ukraine and Israel aid separately.
Both McConnell and Schumer support continued funding for Ukraine, though Schumer, who returned Monday from a trip to Israel, said that he wanted to process funds for the country “as quickly as possible” when asked by The Post Sunday about possibly dividing the package.
The funding request cannot immediately be processed by the House of Representatives because of an unresolved speaker’s race to replace deposed Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.).
The House is expected to vote again late Thursday on Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan’s candidacy after he fell short Tuesday and Wednesday.
Senators opposed to linking Israel and Ukraine aid were increasingly strident in their objections on social media.
Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) tweeted, “don’t hold Border security and Israel aid hostage so the Swamp can give Ukraine a blank check.”
Sen. JD Vance (R-Ohio) wrote, “Holding support for Israel hostage to $60 billion more for Ukraine is a slap in the face to our Israeli friends in their time of need.”
A CNBC poll released this week found 74% of Americans support US military funding for Israel versus 61% who said the same of Ukraine military aid.
Other surveys gauged slimmer US support for Ukraine aid.
A CNN poll in August found 55% of Americans oppose Congress giving additional funds to Ukraine — including 71% of Republicans, 55% of independents and 38% of Democrats. That poll found 59% of women and 58% of non-whites oppose more Ukraine funding.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll this month found 41% of Americans said the US “should provide weapons to Ukraine,” while 35% who were opposed and 24% weren’t unsure.