President Joe Biden on Thursday said he was asking Congress to approve an “urgent budget request” including essential defence aid to Ukraine and Israel, casting both countries’ respective wars against Hamas and Russia as part of a struggle against enemies of democracy who will be emboldened if the US withdraws support.
“American leadership is what holds the world together. American alliances are what keep us America safe. American values are what make us a partner other nations want to work with,” he said in remarks delivered as part of just the second prime-time Oval Office address of his presidency.
