WASHINGTON- In a recent address, U.S. President Joe Biden called upon congressional Republicans to rally behind a proposed bill aimed at providing additional assistance to Ukraine.

Expressing his frustration with the ongoing political showdowns that nearly resulted in a government shutdown, Biden emphasized the importance of maintaining support for Ukraine, which has been a significant focus of U.S. foreign policy since Russia's invasion last year.

Following the passage of a temporary funding bill that averted a government shutdown and garnered bipartisan support, Republican lawmaker Matt Gaetz pledged to challenge House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Notably, the short-term funding measure, lasting until November 17, did not include provisions for aid to Kyiv.

President Biden clarified that Republicans had committed to addressing Ukraine's aid separately through another vote. He stressed the necessity of safeguarding America's support for Ukraine and urged Speaker McCarthy to fulfill his promise to secure the necessary support for Ukraine's defense.

During his visit to Washington last month, Biden assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy of continued robust U.S. support in repelling Russian invaders, despite some opposition from Republican lawmakers.

Looking ahead, President Biden called on Republicans to act swiftly to prevent another crisis in November, urging them to pass a year-long budget agreement and avoid further political brinkmanship.

Biden refrained from commenting on whether Democrats should support McCarthy in retaining his position as House speaker, leaving that decision to Democratic congressional leaders.