WH's Kirby Warns US Blood Will Be Spilled Without Ukraine Aid

The Biden administration is echoing fears stoked by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., that the blood of U.S. soldiers will be spilled if Congress does not pass a foreign aid package for Ukraine.

Earlier this month, Schumer warned if Republicans did not help pass a Senate bill that tied aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan to security at the southern border, Russia will prevail in Ukraine and "we could be fighting in Eastern Europe in a NATO ally in a few years. Americans won't like that."

That legislation never made it to the Senate floor, but the upper chamber on Tuesday passed a $95.34 billion package, with a 70-29 vote, that includes $61 billion for Ukraine, $14 billion for Israel, and $4.83 billion to support partners in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan. It also would provide $9.15 billion in humanitarian assistance to civilians in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, Ukraine, and other conflict zones across the globe.

Echoing Schumer, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told CNN on Wednesday that if the GOP-led House doesn't pass the Senate’s latest aid package, "think about the cost to American blood and treasure" should Russian President Vladimir Putin prevail in Ukraine and further advance on NATO allies in Europe.

"Anybody who thinks that Putin is not serious about those threats needs to look a little closer at what he's been saying," Kirby said, according to a transcript of his interview. "He absolutely bristles at NATO on his border. He absolutely bristles at the idea that NATO could be stronger and more relevant, which it is right now. And he has threatened some of our NATO allies.

"We've got to take this seriously because, I'll tell you, if you think it costs a lot right now to support Ukraine, think about the costs to American blood and treasure if, in fact, he goes after [a] NATO ally, and then you've got American troops on the ground involved in combat."

As a member of NATO, the U.S. would be required to abide by Article 5 of the alliance’s charter, which states any attack on a NATO member in Europe or North America "shall be considered an attack against them all."

"The president is 100% committed to our NATO commitments and to security on the European continent," Kirby said. "As you heard him say again [Tuesday], we'll defend every inch of NATO territory if it comes to that."

• Sen. Schumer: US Will Be Fighting Russia If Bill Isn't Passed
• House Speaker: Emphatic No on Ukraine Aid Despite Biden's Plea