Amid a Republican standoff and polarizing politics that puts new aid to Ukraine at risk, President Joe Biden emphasized his administration"s willingness to support Ukraine, but the language was different. He said the US will be there for Kyiv “as long as we can”, writes The Financial Times.

It’s a change in tune from previous messaging that the US would be a staunch and fierce ally to Ukraine, aiding it for “as long as it takes” to defeat Russia’s invasion.

On Tuesday, Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed reporters on the state of aid to Ukraine, which has been blocked by Republicans in Congress. In his comments, Biden praised Ukraine for surviving for nearly two years, calling its resistance an enormous victory backed by the US, NATO, and other partner nations. “The American people can be and should be incredibly proud of the part they played in supporting Ukraine’s success, too”.

When speaking about providing Ukraine with “critical weapons and equipment”, Biden said the US would provide support “as long as we can”. It’s a scaled-back show of support from the president who has promised to keep Ukraine fighting until it wins, whatever it takes. The shift in rhetoric is a reflection of the current political divide in Congress that"s keeping Ukraine from receiving new aid beyond the limited funding that remains.

“We’ll continue to supply Ukraine with critical weapons and equipment as long as we can, including USD 200 million I just approved today in a critical needed equipment: additional air-defense interceptors, artillery, and ammunition. But without supplemental funding, we’re rapidly coming to an end of our ability to help Ukraine respond to the urgent operational demands that it has. Putin is banking on the US failing to deliver for Ukraine. We must, we must, we must prove him wrong”, - said Biden.