BREAKING: Biden pledges to fund Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’ after Zelensky says support ‘not enough’

President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Voldymyr Zelensky held a joint briefing at the White House on Wednesday, as Biden promised further aid in the form of weapons and funding to that nation's war effort. Zelensky said this week that the current level of US funding "it is not enough."

"We are grateful for [the United States'] support, but it is not enough. It is a hint — it is not enough," Zelensky said in video recorded in city of Bakhmut in the contested Donetsk province.



Biden pontificated at length, declaring that the US provides "unequivocal and unbending support" for Ukraine. He listed off the weapons given to Ukraine to help them fight Russia, the tanks, artillery systems, advanced mobile rocket launching systems, and air defense systems.

"Because we understand in our bones," he continued, "that Ukraine's fight is part of something much bigger. The American people know that if we stand by in the face of such blatant attacks on liberty and democracy, and the core principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity, the world would surely face worse consequences."

"The American people are prepared to have us stand up to bullies stand up for freedom. That's who we are as Americans," Biden said.

In his remarks Biden promised to continue the war forever, if that's what it takes, while listing off the excessive funding and arms packages he has promised to deliver to Zelensky, who stood in his casual army gear by the president's side.

"We also know that Putin has no intention, no intention of stopping this war," he said. "And the United States is committed to ensuring that the brave Ukrainian people can continue to defend their country against Russian aggression as long as it takes."

Zelensky thanked Biden for all the weapons and cash, and said he would take that "good news" home to the Ukranian people.

"Thank you, Mr President, for $45 billion because this is a big assistance, and I hope Congress will approve this assistance for our country... every dollar of this investment from the United States is going to be a strengthening of global security."

Biden called on reporters from his list of approved outlets, beginning with Yahoo News, who welcomed Zelensky, and asked him what his "message" is to the American people. Biden praised Ukraine for "uniting" Europe, despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's claim that the war would weaken NATO.

"We have the same valued and the same understanding of life, the sense of the life," Zelensky said, calling Russia a terrorist nation.

Softball questions continued to be lobbed at the two leaders from selected journalists, most of whom were interested to know what Zelensky's message for Americans and the world might be. While Biden mentioned that a diplomatic solution could be initiated by Putin at any time, he also said that he did not expect this to happen.

Biden said that the focus of continuing to arm Ukraine is in air defense, artillery systems, armored vehicles, and ammunition, in addition to the massive cash outlays the US is delivering to Ukraine.

Biden said further that a "third world war... can all be avoided by making sure that Ukraine is able to succeed in the battlefield." 

"And as I said, Mr. President, you don't have to worry. We are staying with Ukraine, as long as Ukraine is there," Biden concluded.

Zelensky is expected to address Congress on Wednesday night and encourage them to approve the $45 billion to defend his nation's borders, while the Congress does very little to defend their own.