US Congress Close to Approving $60 Billion Military Aid Package for Ukraine
KYIV — Soldiers on the front lines in Ukraine are eagerly awaiting the final approval of a $60 billion military aid package for Kyiv by the US Congress. This potential approval comes at a critical time as Russia escalates its advance in the region.
The Ukraine aid bill, which was passed in the United States’ House of Representatives on Saturday, is now set to go to the Senate on Tuesday. If approved in Congress’s upper chamber, President Joe Biden has pledged to sign it into law immediately to expedite the delivery of weapons and equipment to Ukraine to address their urgent battlefield requirements.
Ukraine has been vocal about its needs, with artillery shells and air defense systems at the top of their list.
On the front lines, Ukrainian soldiers have been sharing stories of being significantly outgunned by Russian forces for months. President Volodymyr Zelensky recently revealed that the ratio was 10 to one in favor of Russia.
One artillery reconnaissance commander with the 110th mechanized brigade, known as “Teren,” emphasized the crucial need for ammunition to secure victory. He mentioned that their artillery was in dire need of supplies after defending the town of Avdiivka for two years, which eventually fell to Russia in February.
The imminent approval of new US military aid has raised hopes among Ukrainian forces facing Russian aggression. The critical question now is how quickly essential munitions like 155mm Howitzer shells can reach the front line to halt Russia’s advancements.
Pentagon spokesperson Patrick Ryder assured that the US Department of Defense is prepared to act swiftly once the order is given, leveraging their robust logistics network to expedite the process.
According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Ukraine is likely to continue facing challenges with shortages of artillery ammunition and air defense interceptors in the coming weeks, impacting their defensive operations.
As Ukraine anticipates the arrival of new military aid, the focus remains on countering Russian offensives and strengthening their defense capabilities to thwart further aggression.
