Biden White House desperate for Ukraine funding, claims GOP is 'playing chicken with our national security' by demanding border closure

As the White House continues pressuring Congress to authorize more aid for Ukraine following the news that current funds will run out by the end of the year, a number of Republicans have made it clear that they will only vote to allow more money for the war-torn nation if it is tied to support for securing the southern border.

On Wednesday, President Joe Biden suggested that the policies being sought by the GOP members of Congress were "extreme," and accused them of "playing chicken" with the United States' national security by potentially paving the way for Russian advances.

 

"Extreme Republicans are playing chicken with our national security, holding Ukraine's funding hostage [for their] extreme partisan border policies."

Biden called on the GOP to work with Democrats, who he said had proposed a bill that would provide funding for Ukraine and the border, and allow for amendments to the latter part of the proposal.

He suggested that Republicans' desire to see the southern border given the same attention as Ukraine proved that they're "willing to literally kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield and damage our national security the process."

Despite all that, Biden admitted that the immigration system was "broken," and stated that he was "willing to make significant compromises on the border."

His sentiments were echoed by National Security Council spokesman John Kirby, who made it clear during a press conference later in the day that reform was needed, including increasing the number of border patrol officers keeping watch over the border.

During the briefing, a reporter brought up the fact that even if the border is secured, there are still an unprecedented number of people in the country who arrived legally but overstayed their visas.

"If you're in this country illegally, that's obviously not ok and you should be held to account for being here illegally," he answered.