moments ago, we heard from president biden as he's meeting with ukrainian president vladimir zelensky. zelensky visiting washington, d.c. pushing for more aid to ukraine, which biden supports. he wants to send another $61 billion to kyiv. >> the problem is that biden can't do it without congress. and congress doesn't seem like they want to budge here. republicans on the hill are demanding concessions on border security before they agree to anymore money for ukraine. biden said this about the holdup. take a listen. >> congress needs to pass a supplemental funding to ukraine before they break holiday recess. before they give putin the greatest christmas gift they could possibly give him. because we've seen what happens when dictators don't pay the price for the damage and the debt and destruction they cause and they keep going when no price is paid. threats to america, europe and the world will only keep rising if we don't act. >> all right. let's go to cnn nick payton walsh. he's in ukraine. nick, we heard from biden. what are we hearing from zelensky about all of this? >> reporter: yeah. in his conversations with lawmakers, speaker johnson, he essentially touted ukraine's successes on the battlefield. the way ukraine used longer range weapons, it's fair to say they pushed a lot of russia's fleet there. strategically important towards the black sea russian coast. so far away from nato territory. strategic victory. he talked to speaker johnson about reforming ukraine. touching on a sensitive issue about corruption in ukraine. most wars see some form of corruption because this theme continues to dog ukraine and trying to get the billions it's become used to in announcement ifs the pentagon and white house to keep the war afloat. zelensky is facing a complex time here. his defense minister frankly joking that the chief of the army, the chief of staff of the armed forces hadn't, in fact, been fired. there's clearly a public dispute between the ukraine president and commander and chief that's being talked about a lot over the past months because of how the counteroffense didn't really work. combined with that, the crisis and funding they're now seeing. the fact that russia has been waiting for this western unity and support to begin to crumble and looking for a bleak winter ahead here. there are suggestions that if congress doesn't put something on the table that ukraine can start to increase the funding before the end of the week when they potentially go away for the holidays, they could, according to one lawmaker, have trouble to pay salaries for doctors and first responders in january. today we got a taste of what it would look like if russia gets more on the front foot. losses reported in the town of the east. u.s. intelligence suggested 13,000 russians have become casualties as russia tryes to push for that eastern town. one of a number they may be able to take by slowly grinding their way through. a slow cyber attack damaged cell phones and impeding the work on air raid alerts on phones. civilians are worried they'll see a bleak winter and potentially front lines starved with the defense that's kept ukraine's defense alive. >> nick payton-walsh live for us. thank you so much for the update. let's expand the conversation with cnn political and national security analyst david sanger. david, i'm curious about your reflections about the objections of providing ukraine with aid. republicans say there needs to be more accountability and the white house says there's no evidence the funds are being misused in a widespread way and the question of what victory looks like. a clear objective. the white house said it's for ukraine to define. where do you see the objections coming from? >> reporter: there are three separate things going on here. number one is the about the border. and the president decided to link these issues together to get some political advantage. that some people would vote on israel. some people would because of ukraine, he could get the border through. that's looking like a worse and worse bet. then there are the ukraine specific issues you brought up. as you say, we haven't heard a huge amount. i'm sure there's some corruption going on. let's face it. we've been sending them mostly arms made in the united states or brought out from the allies. there's not a lot to steal in the way of actual cash except for the support for the ukrainian government. not a lot of evidence there. the biggest problem they're facing is the war is beginning to turn on them. the russians, as we discovered, screwed up a lot of things in the first 18 months, but they have now got more manpower coming in. they have more artillery coming in. they're using the electronic war fair better and it's coming at the very moment that putin may believe we're beginning to crack in our own support, our own willingness to do this. if the u.s. cracks, europe will be next. >> let me ask. we got declassified information that putin feels like amidst the cracks they can wait it out and play the waiting game. but also that russia has lost 87% of the ground troops since this war began and we're entering year three here. 87% is staggering. >> reporter: yeah. >> put that in context for us. >> reporter: it is staggering. and it's a little bit hard to be able to measure that number. but what we're hearing from various intelligent sources, they've had over 300,000 casualties. that is a huge, huge number. the fact that putin has been able to sort of hold on without big protests and all is remarkable in that regard. that said, he has always betted, taken the bet. if he can simply hold on through next year, if donald trump or somebody whose view of the war is similar to donald trump gets elected, his problems are pretty much over. at that point, former president trump said he'll solve this war in 24 hours. the only way you solve this in 24 hours is saying vladimir putin, you can have what you've taken, which would send a pretty stark message to a lot of people, include it is chinese as they're thinking about taiwan. >> also, it's a chilling message to nato allies as well. right? european support for this war has been critical. as you noted, if the u.s. starts to pull away, this could be a catastrophy. >> nato has held together and it has a purpose and cause greater than it has in 30 years. the europeans are stepping up and spending more and more on aid. not as much as we would like, but they're doing quite well. and if the u.s. comes out of this, it's like the plug comes out of the drain here. that's what zelensky is most worried about. it was interesting he couldn't seem to persuade opponents on the hill today. >> david sanger, appreciate the analyst. we want to turn to the middle east and increasing signs of a disconnect between washington and israel as their war against hamas and gaza rages on. president benjamin netanyahu admitted he and president biden disagree on the future of gaza. biden said netanyahu needs to change his tactics as support for israel's military response wanes. it's difficult for netanyahu, according to president biden, because of the hard lined government. we're joined by a senior adviser, mark ragiv. thank you for spending part of your afternoon with us. i want you to react to a specific remark from president biden. he says this is the most conservative government in israel's history. adding that the israeli government does not want a two state solution. mark, is president biden wrong? >> well, the position of my prime minister is that the palestinians should have all the power to rule themselves and none of the power to hurt israel. and that second part is also very important. as you saw israelis are still in shock from what happened to us on october 7th. when palestinians crossed the border from gaza and butchered our people. it's important that we put this disagreement with the americans into context. we agree on the need to defeat hamas. that israel is within its right and obligation to our people. to destroy hamas, we have to see a new situation in the gaza strip. it's not impossible that when we work together that we can find a way to move ahead in a post hamas gaza scenario. >> to that point, though, biden's comments seem to reflect the idea that netanyahu has to change his approach but that his government is making it very difficult for him. do you think that benjamin netanyahu feels constrained? >> boris, israel as of two months ago has a wider government now. one of the large center parties joined the coalition to pursue the war against hamas. it's part of the national unity we have now in israel because there's really no left and right in israel when it comes to defeating hamas. everyone understands we cannot have this terror on the southern border. that we have to end that. that israeli families shouldn't have to live in fear of terrorists crossing the frontier in the middle of the night and butchering their children. no one in the country wants to go through october 7th ever again. so, we have a wider government now. that government is helping us achieve unity to defeat hamas. and i think it'll also help us when we have to start dealing with a post hamas scenarios and what arrangements we'll have. a post hamas gaza will be demill terrorized and deradicallized. >> the question of what happens to gaza after hamas, there are divergent views in the israeli government. who do you think should oversee gaza after hamas? u.s. officials are pushing forward the palestinian authority should have a significant role. it doesn't appear benjamin netanyahu supports. >> so we say the following. we don't want to reoccupy gaza. we don't want to govern the people of gaza. obviously in the initial post war period, we'll have to have overriding security control because we can't see a resurgent terrorist element come and take away the benefits the war will bring. we want to see, a de militarized. it's good for israel and gaza. it's only brought them hardship, misery and poverty. they, too, deserve better. >> so on the question of biden suggesting that israel is losing global support, does that influence the thinking of the israeli government in any way? i think it's become clear given what the u.n. security counsel tried to push forward and the u.s. blocked that the world is not okay with the 18,000 plus people reported killed. many of them women and children in gaza. does this, in any way, alter what israel is trying to accomplish or the way it approaches the war with hamas? >> well, first of all, the u.n. is a strange place and there's an automatic, as you know, boris, there's an automatic antiisrael majority there at the united nations. and we thank the united states. we're very appreciative of their veto. we had america's diplomatic protection. it's appreciated here in israel. as we move forward in this, it's crucial that we win this war. it's crucial that we defeat hamas. in doing so, in parallel, we have to do everything we can to safeguard gaza civilians, and we have to do everything we can to make sure they get the aid they need. that war needs to be won. for israel, there's no choice. we have to defeat hamas. >> are you concerned that if israel doesn't move closer to the u.s.' expectations, specifically when it comes to civilians and a post hamas gaza, that support for israel from the united states may start to wane? >> we've seen amazing support from the united states. we've just said it was expressed by the american support of the united nations and expressed by the american ammunition that's arrived. we really do appreciate it. we share the same goals here. hamas has to be defeated. there has to be a new reality in gaza where hamas is no longer in power there controlling the gaza strip, turning it into a base of terror. i think it's possible to achieve understandings o on what it is post hamas gaza. ultimately, israel, the united states want to see a gaza that works for the people of gaza. we agree on the principles of demillization and deradicallization. there might be differences on how to achieve that after the war is won. i think we've worked together well, i think today the u.s., israel cooperation on all levels is almost unprecedented in its positive cooperation. yes, we're working very closely together, and we can work closely together on the post hamas scenarios. >> mark, we have to leave the conversation there. thank you so much for the time, sir. >> thank you for having me. >> of course. let's go to capitol hill. that's where the house rules' committee reconvened as they prepare to vote on an impeachment resolution for joe biden. if it gets through, it would open the door to vote on the issue. he's facing scrutiny over his son's foreign business dealings. let's bring in cnn melanie. she's on capitol hill. melanie, the holiday recess now just days away. meaning that whatever potentially happens next could happen very soon. what more are you learn something. >> reporter: the house is expected to vote on the impeachment resolution as soon as tomorrow. we're told that it is expected to pass. after nearly the entire house republican conference has lined up behind this resolution. now, this inquiry has been going on for several months after kevin mccarthy, the former speaker opened this inquiry back in september. now, republicans really want to strengthen their hand in court as they try to enforce their remaining subpoenas as they look to wrap up the rest of the probe. this doesn't mean that impeachment is inevitable. they're urging caution saying they're going to follow the facts where they lead and make a decision sometime in early next year. perhaps end of january, sometime in february. meanwhile, there are moderate key swing district republicans who are casting doubt they'll find any impeachable offenses. just listen. >> i think it's more important to have this information for the elections. let's let the voters decide. i don't know that you'll see a high crime or misdemeanor, but the voters deserve to know what did the bidens do with $25 million? where did it come in from and where did it go? >> is there a chance there won't be articles of impeachment? >> i think that's probably more likely than not. >> reporter: this vote tomorrow comes on the same day that hunter biden was subpoenaed to appear for a closed door deposition. however, he says he'll testify in public. and republicans are threatening to hold him in contempt of congress if he doesn't show. all eyes on whether hunter biden shows up tomorrow. our colleagues are reported he'll be in d.c. tomorrow that's one to watch, rahel. >> we have reporting he is physically in d.c. melanie, thank you. still to come on news central, new hampshire governor expected to endorse former south carolina governor nikki haley. will this be enough to slow down donald trump? the u.s. pressuring israel to allow more humanitarian aid into the enclave. that and much more coming up in just a few minutes. in just a few hours, the race for the white house will veer towards grand view university in des moines where ron desantis will be front and center at a cnn town hall. the pressure is on. in 34 days, the iowa caucuses are set to take place. the first official test to show which candidates republicans favor. >> the latest des moines register poll shows donald trump is very much ahead with the majority of likely caucus gastroers. we have scott jenings here. he served to special assistant to george w. bush. scott, let's start with desantis. it wasn't that long ago that he was a rising star. it seemed like he had so much momentum. what happened and what could he do tonight to change that? >> two things happened. donald trump. let's be honest. donald trump has momentum right now in this race. nothing has really dented him. and a lot of things seem to have propelled him along that you might have assumed before they happened it would hurt the average candidate. it hasn't hurt him. desantis needs to keep the game going longer than iowa. that's the issue here. if you look at the polling, he wins this by 20 plus, it'll feel like the race is over before we even get to new hampshire or south carolina or other states. and so, that's the challenge. is your organizational strength if you're desantis. he has some. he has the governor of iowa, and they've been working that. is it enough to muscle you to within single digits. it feels like the ball is bouncing. if everybody loses by 20 in iowa, it will feel deflated. >> maria, to scott's point, desantis has dedicated himself to going to iowa expo then usually more than donald trump. he has the governor and evangelical leaders and pulled the all 99 counties. if he loses iowa, is it over? >> i think it's over for him now, boris. i think another thing happened to ron desantis. that's ron desantis. he completely melted and was just mad when he got to the national stage. he might have done great in florida. when the focus was on cultural issues in florida completely took everything out of his campaign. he also, and this is an important attribute to have, whether you like them or hate them, they have to be likable. for the people that like them, they have to be likable. everything i've heard from people who know ron desantis well. even the people who served with him on the hill was that he was absolutely unlikable. he did not have any way to have a personal relationship with somebody. it was not something he was ever really interested in. so it's interesting in iowa they're focusing on this. in iowa and new hampshire, there's a lot of that personal relationship. i think that's one of the reason why he has the percentages he has in iowa and new hampshire. by the way, i don't think haley is going to do anything better either. and it's because donald trump has such a prohibitive advantage in both of those states that these, i think both of these states and the primary, the debates, the town halls, it's all going to be more either vice president, a cabinet position if donald trump were to win or, you know, i don't know, maybe a gig on fox news. >> it doesn't seem like scott agrees with you. >> i don't agree on the vice president. i don't personally believe any of these people are running for vice president. i don't know what donald trump is going to do. >> do you think they'll say no if you're offered it? >> you mentioned the likability problem for desantis. nikki haley doesn't have that issue. she may pick up an endorsement from the governor of new hampshire and you mentioned desantis getting the endorsement from kim reynolds in iowa. they're both popular governors, it seems. how much does it matter? >> if you have the endorsement, there's organizational qualities that come along with that and people they're part of the governor's organization that can help you. as it relates to moving polling, not very much. i do think it's always good to have someone popular vouching for you. it's better than a sharp stick in the eye. if you're someone who believes, if you're a republican in iowa or new hampshire right now who believes that donald trump was wrong in deed 2020 and that vindication is at hand and he's finally going to vanquish the bidens, is an endorsement going to pull you off that when you're looking at national polling showing donald trump beating joe biden and biden struggling? of course not. it may have organizationally. but wholesale movement, unlikely. >> the polling that scott is talking about has undercut the argument from the other republican rivals in the race that aren't donald trump. that they're more electable than the former president. there's more polling that shows biden going head to head with florida governor desantis and as well former u.n. ambassador nikki haley. you see it there. it appears that if it's ron desantis running, he's raiser thin major tied with joe biden. nikki haley has a substantial advantage. this coin