LIVE: White House briefing

Ukraine

• The US is working closely with its allies and partners to ensure they are on board with the use of frozen Russian assets.
• The President offered the date of next Monday for a ceasefire based on advice from his National Security team and cautious optimism about the progress of negotiations.
• The President hopes for an extended pause in the fighting, lasting several weeks, to allow for the release of hostages, increased humanitarian assistance, and the cessation of civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.
• The US is focused on securing a hostage deal before the start of Ramadan on March 10th, which would lead to an extended pause in the fighting.
• The US believes that without additional funding, Ukraine is likely to lose more territory and face further Russian success in the coming weeks.
• The situation in Ukraine is dire, with Ukrainian forces running out of ammunition and losing territory to Russian forces.
• The US is seeking additional funding for Ukraine through various means, including lend-lease or loans, but there is no "magic pot of money" and they need the supplemental funding requested in October.
• President Biden does not support the involvement of US troops in the conflict in Ukraine.
• The only US military personnel in Ukraine are with the embassy as part of the defense attaché office, helping with accountability of weapons and systems.

Gaza

• The US is pushing for a temporary ceasefire in the Middle East, particularly during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, to ensure the safety of hostages and reduce civilian casualties.
• President Biden is cautiously optimistic about reaching a ceasefire in Gaza and working towards a temporary pause to reduce civilian casualties.
• The US is concerned about the conditions in which hostages are being held and wants to secure their release as soon as possible.
• A temporary ceasefire, if agreed upon, could last up to 6 weeks and would involve a cessation of fighting, allowing for humanitarian assistance and the release of hostages.

National Security Supplemental Funding

• The administration urges Speaker Johnson to provide timely funding for Ukraine, emphasizing the urgency of the situation as Russian forces continue to make territorial gains.
• The President believes it's important to continue conversations with Congress about the National Security Supplemental funding.
• The supplemental funding request for Ukraine is urgently needed, and the delay in congressional action has already had negative consequences on the battlefield.
• The meeting between President Biden and Congressional leaders, including Speaker Johnson, was intense but productive.
• All four Congressional leaders agreed that a government shutdown is unacceptable and understood the gravity of the situation in Ukraine.
• The CIA director provided a sobering account of Ukraine's losses on the battlefield due to congressional inaction.
• The President emphasized the dire consequences of inaction and urged Congress to take immediate action to support national security.
• The White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, held a press briefing to discuss various topics.
• She emphasized the urgent need for Congress to pass the National Security Supplemental bill, which received bipartisan support in the Senate.
• The bill addresses critical national security concerns in Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Pacific.
• The press secretary highlighted the dire consequences of inaction, as reported by the CIA director and evident from recent developments in Ukraine.
• President Biden met with the "Big Four" congressional leaders to discuss the importance of passing the bill and avoiding a government shutdown.
• The White House reiterated its position that Speaker McCarthy needs to prioritize the American people's best interests by putting the National Security Supplemental bill on the floor for a vote.
• Ongoing conversations between congressional teams and the White House aim to address the potential shutdown and emphasize the significance of passing the National Security bill.
• The White House emphasizes the importance of passing the National Security Supplemental and keeping the government open.

Border Security

• The White House believes a legislative solution is necessary to address the border issue and does not believe additional executive actions would be as effective as the bipartisan Senate legislation.
• The National Security Supplemental funding, which includes border security measures, has been passed by the Senate but is being held up by House Republicans.
• President Biden will visit Bronzeville, Texas, to discuss border security challenges and the bipartisan border security proposal.
• The White House criticizes House Republicans for not doing their jobs and prioritizing national security and the best interests of the American people.

Voting Rights

• Vice President Harris is actively engaging in discussions about voting rights and will visit Selma on Sunday to commemorate Bloody Sunday, although the actual anniversary date is March 7th.
• The White House Press Secretary, Karine Jean-Pierre, declined to provide details about President Biden's upcoming State of the Union Address, including whether he will address voting rights.
• She acknowledged that access to voting has been compromised and gutted, but highlighted President Biden's executive action on voting rights and his call for Congressional action.

Other

• Senior officials visited Michigan to meet with Muslim and Arab Americans to understand their concerns and convey the President's care for their community.