The delay in US aid ‘shocks’ Ukraine

Her is “shocked” by the persistent blockage in the American Congress of approving a package in Kiev, due to political confrontations in Congress months ago, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said today (19.3.2024). “What really matters and what shocks us is that the decision on a funding package has not yet been adopted. We are approaching the end of March and discussions are continuing,” the Ukrainian State Secretary told foreign media during online information. Exhausted by two years of Russian attack, Ukraine is fighting against the Russian army, superior to number of soldiers and quantity of weapons and ammunition. In recent weeks, Russian troops have been promoted to several fronts in eastern Ukraine. Culeba however stressed that “American aid will come” at the end. “It is about confidence in the US’s ability to support countries that respect the same rules and principles as the United States around the world, it is much wider than Ukraine,” he argued. Ukraine does not rule out the idea, proposed by Donald Trump, of providing this aid in the form of loans rather than donations, but must have more details, the minister completed. These statements come the day after the visit to Kiev of a Trump believer, Republican Senator Lindsay Graham, who supported the American former president’s proposal to grant assistance to Ukraine in the form of a zero-interest loan. “We are not shocked when we hear this proposal coming from the US,” the Ukrainian State Secretary reacted. “We really need to see the details”. Democratic President Joe Biden’s government has since last year claimed Congress to approve a $60 billion funding package to continue providing military assistance to Ukraine, but the dead end on the issue remains in Congress. The approval of the funding package depends on Donald Trump’s goodwill supporters in the House of Representatives, who even refuse to discuss the text on it, amid appeals to the immigration issue. This package was approved in mid-February by the Senate, but has still not received the green light from the House of Representatives.