US considers it imperative to help Ukraine, believes in need to support Israel - State Department

Deputy Spokesperson for the US Department of State Vedant Patel stated that further support for Ukraine and Israel is a priority for the US leadership

Patel said this at a briefing, Ukrinform reports.

"We believe it is imperative that we continue to support our partners in Ukraine who are defending their country and protecting its territorial integrity and sovereignty. We also continue to believe in the need to support our partners in Israel who are defending their security and have every right to defend themselves," Patel said.

The State Department representative also praised the position of US House Speaker Mike Johnson in support of Ukraine.

• On October 26, the newly elected Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, said he believes it is necessary to separate the issues of support for Ukraine and Israel.
• Later, however, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell called for the allocation of aid to Ukraine and Israel as part of a single package, despite the fact that the Speaker of the House of Representatives insisted on separate bills.
• On November 2, the US House of Representatives passed a bill to provide USD 14.3 billion in aid to Israel, which does not include aid to Ukraine.
• On November 7, Democratic senators blocked the passage of a bill on aid to Israel that did not include aid to Ukraine.
• On November 8, US Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg arrived in Kyiv.