Two administration officials say Terry Wolfe recently joined the National Security Council to help coordinate security aid provided by the United States and partners to Ukraine. Wolff is a retired three-star general and an army officer with experience in the Pentagon, the United States, the State Department and the NSC.
“His experience as a replacement for the defeated ISIS coalition will be incredible to ensure that this coalition maintains momentum,” an official told CNN. Nathan Sales, who served as the U.S. State Department’s counterterrorism coordinator under then-President Donald Trump, similarly praised Wolfe as an “inspirational choice for the role.”
“After decades of working at the crossroads of diplomacy and war, he is the right man to make sure Ukraine gets the weapons it needs to win Russia’s bloody war of aggression,” Sales said.
The Biden administration is working to get military aid to Ukraine as soon as possible because it believes the war is at a critical juncture and continued US aid could change the meaning as Russia’s more aggressive attack on eastern Ukraine intensifies.
President Joe Biden clarified this on Thursday when he announced that the United States was sending an additional $ 800 million package to Ukraine, including dozens of howitzers, tactical drones and 144,000 rounds of ammunition.
Speaking about the importance of receiving aid for Ukraine, Biden paraphrased a quote from President Theodore Roosevelt, telling reporters: “Sometimes we will speak quietly and carry a large copy, because we send a lot of them.” He was referring to an anti-tank missile that the United States provided to the Ukrainian military.
This will be the last withdrawal of the president until Congress approves more money for weapons for Ukraine. In a presidential downturn, the Department of Defense is withdrawing weapons and equipment from US stockpiles instead of buying new weapons from manufacturers.
Biden said Thursday that he would make a formal request next week for Congress to approve a second additional funding package to help Ukraine, adding that he expects Congress to “move and act quickly” on the package.
This story was updated with additional information on Thursday.
Kevin Liptak of CNN contributed to this report.
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