President Joe Biden reportedly lost it on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy after he asked for more assistance amid Russia’s invasion.
NBC News reported on Monday the incident took place during a phone call between the leaders in June.
Biden had “barely finished telling Zelenskyy he’d just greenlighted another $1 billion in U.S. military assistance for Ukraine when Zelenskyy started listing all the additional help he needed and wasn’t getting,” as NBC News explained.
People familiar with the call told the outlet Biden then “lost his temper.”
The report continues, “The American people were being quite generous, and his administration and the U.S. military were working hard to help Ukraine, he said, raising his voice, and Zelenskyy could show a little more gratitude.”
According to NBC News, administration officials claim Biden and Zelenskyy’s relationship has “improved” since the phone conversation.
Three people familiar with the call said Biden’s “frustrations with Zelenskyy had been building for weeks.”
In August, Zelenskyy expressed his appreciation for the United States after another aid package was sent to Ukraine.
“I’m grateful to the people of ?? and [President Biden] personally for allocating another unprecedented security aid package of $1 billion to [Ukraine],” Zelenskyy tweeted at the time.
He added, “Every dollar of such aid is a step towards defeating the aggressor. We’ll always remember leadership support of ?? at a time when it’s most needed!”
I'm grateful to the people of ?? and @POTUS personally for allocating another unprecedented security aid package of $1 billion to??. Every dollar of such aid is a step towards defeating the aggressor. We'll always remember leadership support of ?? at a time when it's most needed!
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) August 8, 2022
Last week, CBS News reported that the U.S. would be sending another round of aid to Ukraine worth $275 million.
“The United States will continue to stand with more than 50 allies and partners in support of the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence with extraordinary courage and boundless determination,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.
Including the latest aid, the U.S. has committed $17.9 billion in support to Ukraine since the beginning of the invasion.
