Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the House of Representatives for quickly approving a $60 billion U.S. aid package. He added that his country will be able to repel the expected Russian offensive only if American weapons arrive in Ukraine quickly. His statement is noted by the American The Washington Post.
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17:49 April 30, 2024
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Joe Biden at the White House Source: Photobank Profimedia
The aid package, which also includes support for Israel and the Pacific, was approved by the US House of Representatives last Saturday evening. It also passed the Senate on Wednesday and was signed into law by President Joe Biden on the same day.
A selection of comments, analyzes and reports from foreign media
Shortly thereafter, the White House announced that it was immediately sending about a billion dollars worth of weapons to Ukraine, which would reach the battlefield within days. They should also include air defense systems and artillery rounds.
Kyiv needs ammunition. According to Zelenskyi, Ukrainian soldiers are preparing for a battle in the east of the country, where Moscow wants to capture the city of Chasiv Yar by May 9 – to celebrate the victory of the Soviet Union over the Nazis in World War II.
According to Zelensky, the army lacks the equipment needed to fight Russian reconnaissance drones, which essentially guide artillery. According to the president, Kyiv lost time and momentum while US lawmakers discussed the aid package for Ukraine.
Ammo is running low
Officials in Washington and Kiev have warned that Ukrainian front-line troops are often on rations of ammunition and supplies are running low. According to Ukraine, Moscow will soon have a 10:1 superiority in artillery shells.
“While far-right Republicans blocked aid to Ukraine, troops on the front lines ran out of artillery shells and ammunition,” said US President Biden, noting that Moscow’s allies in China, Iran and North Korea have helped Russia with arms and material supplies.
“Ukrainian soldiers are preparing for battle in the east of the country, where Moscow wants to capture the city of Chasiv Yar by May 9.”
According to experts, it is unlikely that the newly approved American aid would tip the scales in favor of Kiev by itself. However, Ukrainian troops on the front will no longer have to save ammunition, and air defense will better protect cities and infrastructure, which have been relentlessly attacked by Russian missiles and drones in recent months.
Ukraine has a difficult year ahead. Among Kyiv’s priorities will be efforts to contain Russian forces while at the same time preparing its own troops for a future attack.
Ukraine will also focus on maintaining disputed areas in the north and east of the country and maintaining a trade route in the Black Sea. At the same time, the Ukrainians should continue to distract Moscow by having Ukrainian troops attack military targets in Crimea.
American ATACMS missiles, which are part of the military aid package, could help with this. The missiles have a range of up to 300 kilometers and can reach deep into Russian-occupied territory, or target drone launch facilities and military airfields.
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The Washington Post notes that Zelenskyy avoided a confrontation with Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, while thanking US aid. He said that the United States should stop helping Ukraine. In addition, Trump has promised to quickly end the war if he is re-elected.
Trump has said privately that he will pressure Ukraine to cede part of its territory to Russia in exchange for peace. Zelenskyy declined to comment, but suggested that Trump and his advisers should understand that Russian President Vladimir Putin is not a credible negotiator.
This is also agreed by some Republican lawmakers, who were pleased with the adoption of the aid package for American allies and described it as protection against authoritarian regimes in the world.
“If you give Putin Ukraine, he won’t stop. And if you give him Ukraine, it’s going to be Taiwan because China is watching what we do,” Republican senator and Trump ally Lindsey Graham told Fox News. Democratic Senator Mark Warner has a similar view and has called for tougher sanctions against Russia, he concludes.
Listen to more in the audio recording of the program World in 20 minutes.
Jiří Klečka, tpa
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