Kamala Harris:

Ukraine aid must not be a political plaything

Volodymyr Zelensky and Kamala Harris at the Munich Security Conference(Bild: APA/AFP/POOL/WOLFGANG RATTAY)

At the Munich Security Conference, US Vice President Kamala Harris called on the people in her country to provide "steadfast" support for Ukraine. "We cannot play political games," said Harris on Saturday at a joint press conference with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, referring to the tug-of-war over a 60 billion dollar aid package in Washington.

She went on to emphasize that this should play "no role" in the fight against Russia. In Washington, a further aid package for Ukraine worth 60 billion dollars (around 55.7 billion euros) has been blocked for months by the opposition Republicans at the behest of former US President Donald Trump, who wants to run for re-election in November.

"There is only plan A"
Support for Ukraine has nothing to do with election dates, said Harris. There is "only one plan A: Ukraine gets what it needs".

The Vice President was convinced of the bipartisan support for the aid package: she firmly believes that "if the law is voted on in the House of Representatives today, it will be passed".

Selenskyj said that his country was counting on the "positive decision" of the US Congress. The aid package is "very important" for Ukraine and could contribute to progress on the battlefield.

Harris and Selensky met at the security conference, at which the Ukrainian president had previously appealed for continued support for his country from its Western partners. Selensky complained about the lack of artillery and long-range weapons.