Joe Biden, Boris Johnson talk ramping up support for Ukraine

US President Joe Biden has sought to rally the world against Russia’s unprovoked attack on Ukraine that has continued for almost two months. This week, Biden spoke with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss increasing their support for Ukraine.

Biden and Johnson spoke this week regarding boosting military and economic support for Ukraine as both countries have imposed sanctions along with many other nations. A spokesperson for Johnson’s office said that both leaders also spoke about the need to end the West’s dependence on energy products from Russia.

“The leaders discussed the need to accelerate assistance to Ukraine, including bolstering military and economic support as the Ukrainian forces prepare for another Russian onslaught in the east of the country,” said Johnson’s spokesperson.

A readout from the White House also said that Biden and Johnson supported the ongoing cooperation with their allies and partners in further applying pressure on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin through increased sanctions.

While Biden himself has pushed back on some attacks from Republicans, particularly his former friend, Senator Lindsey Graham, the US leader’s sister, Valerie Biden Owens, also spoke out against the South Carolina Senator for his change in attitude. Biden Owens raised the question in her upcoming memoir about her life, “Growing Up Biden.”

Biden Owens wrote that Graham was considered to have “strong relationships” with her brother during his time as Senator for Delaware, which he represented for 36 years. However, when now-former President Donald Trump, whom Graham openly criticized, was elected president in 2016, Graham appeared to change his tune and “became sycophant in chief.”

Biden Owens wrote that it was “troubling” to see her brother’s former colleagues “do nothing, or at worst, participate,” during the Trump presidency and that Graham began to make “character-assassinating” comments towards her brother and their family.

Graham was also a close friend to the late Arizona Republican Senator John McCain, who was also a good friend of Biden’s. Biden Owens wrote that when McCain passed away, “perhaps a part of Senator Graham’s soul died” as well.

Biden Owens also recalled the comments made by Graham back in 2015 during an interview with the Huffington Post.

“The bottom line is if you don’t admire Joe Biden as a person – you have a problem. You need to do some self-evaluation…He is as good a man as God ever created,” said Graham at the time.