The White House showered praise on Ukraine when asked about the country’s efforts to fight back attacks from Russian troops, but it stopped short of saying Kyiv is winning the war.
Communications Director Kate Bedingfield, filling in for the COVID-19-sidelined press secretary Jen Psaki, was asked multiple times if the Biden administration believes Ukraine is winning.
“The White House believes that Ukraine has fought valiantly, has been incredibly brave and resolved in the face of the atrocious, brutal invasion from Russia,” Bedingfield said. “What you’ve seen in the actions from this White House is that we have provided weapons, we have provided assistance, we have been there every step of the way and will continue to be.”
The war in Ukraine appears to be going poorly for invading Russian troops, who have ostensibly refocused their efforts in Ukraine to the Donbas region away from toppling Kyiv, which could be a move to save face.
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Reporters asked multiple times during Wednesday’s press briefing whether it could be said that Ukraine was winning the war, to which Bedingfield was strongly supportive in her statements without using the “W” word.
“In our actions and in the support that we’ve provided, we’ve been very clear that we’re doing everything we can to stand with Ukraine and ensure that they are able to push back against Russian aggression,” she said.
President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Wednesday morning, promising $500 million in direct budgetary aid and getting an update on the status of Ukraine’s negotiations with Russia.
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Support has poured in from across the world for Ukraine, while sanctions have severely crippled Russia’s economy as its military appears further and further from its goal of toppling the government in Kyiv.
“I don’t know that I have to say it,” Bedingfield said. “I think that our actions show and the support that we’ve provided shows that we believe Ukraine has been incredibly brave, incredibly strong, and we’re going to continue to support them as they move forward.”
