WASHINGTON (AP) 鈥 President Joe Biden urged the U.S. House to immediately take up Senate-passed supplemental funding for Ukraine and Israel on Monday as he hosted Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala in the Oval Office.
The visit came as Biden aimed to highlight the efforts other nations are making to support Ukraine. It followed the Czech government鈥檚 announcement that it is sending 1 million rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine, which Kyiv says is badly needed on the battlefield against Russia's invasion.
鈥淎s the Czech Republic remembers, Russia won鈥檛 stop at Ukraine,鈥 Biden said. He appealed to Congress to pass the supplemental funding so the U.S. could do its part to help Ukraine. 鈥淭hey have to do it now,鈥 Biden said.
Fiala praised the U.S. president for his leadership in support of Ukraine, adding, 鈥淲e are also doing our best.鈥
He said, 鈥淚n 1968 I saw Russian tanks in the streets of my town, and I don鈥檛 want to see this again."
Biden called the Czech Republican a 鈥済reat ally鈥 in NATO, as Fiala said his country's decision to purchase F-35 fighter jets from the U.S. will 鈥渕ake our cooperation and security much stronger."
Fiala told reporters following his sit-down with Biden that he will meet with lawmakers on Capitol Hill on Tuesday to further discuss Ukraine aid.
鈥淭he support from U.S., the help from U.S. is very important," Fiala said.
