Ukraine was dealt a heavy blow on Wednesday evening after the US Senate blocked a supplemental funding bill including financial aid for the war-torn nation.
The vote opposing advancing the legislation marked a fresh headache for President Joe Biden, who has repeatedly appealed to lawmakers in favour of this bill.
Most worryingly, many believe a prolonged delay in the delivery of aid will have real-life consequences in Ukraine and its resistance against Russian invaders.
Speaking ahead of the vote, Fred Kagan, director of the Critical Threats Project at the American Enterprise Institute, painted a bleak picture of Ukraine’s chances to prevail against Vladimir Putin’s army without US support.
He told Foreign Policy: “We support Ukraine or Ukraine loses the war. It really is that stark.”
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The US has been providing the bulk of military aid to Ukraine – including artillery shells, air defence systems and, months into the war, long-range missiles.
These weapons have been deployed over the past six months, when Ukraine launched its counter-offensive.
While this maneouvre didn’t produce the same results as the rapid attack launched by Ukraine to recapture Kherson in November 2022, the more advanced weaponry provided by Western allies helped Kyiv’s troops to push against well-fortified Russian positions in the south and east.
Postponing or turning off the military aid taps completely could undermine the work done so far on the battlefield at huge human cost by Ukraine, head of the Ukrainian presidential office Andriy Yermak said.
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Speaking at the US Institute of Peace in Washington on Tuesday, he noted: “It will be difficult to keep in [the] same positions and for the people to really survive.”
A few hours after Mr Yermak’s appeal, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky was meant to address US senator via video link – but the briefing was called off at the last moment.
Since the war began in February 2022, the US Congress has approved more than $110billion (£87bn) in military and economic aid to Ukraine.
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The package blocked by the US Senate was worth $111bn (£88.22bn) – albeit it included support also for Israel and Taiwan as well as funding for the US southern border security.
Republicans in the Senate and Congress have opposed the bill as they say their demands for stricter border regulations have not yet been met.
Ahead of the vote, Mr Biden stressed what he believes is at stake when it comes to supporting Ukraine, as he said: “Who is prepared to walk away from holding Putin accountable for this behaviour? Who among us is really prepared to do that? I’m not prepared to walk away, and I don’t think the American people are either.”
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