The US administration has greenlit a further package of military support to Ukraine, amounting to a substantial $250 million. This latest infusion of aid encompasses a range of armaments such as air defense systems, heavy artillery, essential small arms munitions, and robust anti-tank weaponry, as per statements from US officials.
This announcement signifies the last of allocated funds, pending new authorization from a divided Congress, where progress has hit a stalemate.
Ukrainian leaders have raised alarms over the potential jeopardy to their national defense and economic stability should the stream of Western assistance dry up.
With a counter-assault in the eastern regions of Ukraine facing hurdles, and the frontlines largely unchanged, Ukrainian authorities are now bracing for a possible downturn in aid from their allies across the Atlantic and in Europe.
Support for Ukraine’s cause holds considerable weight in the US legislature, but further arms agreements are currently blocked by Republican lawmakers who are staunch in their demands. They assert that enhanced security initiatives at the US-Mexico boundary should be coupled with any military assistance agreements.
An urgent funding bill, intended to provision $50 billion for Ukraine as well as $14 billion for Israel, failed to pass in the Senate previously, with every Republican and the independent Senator Bernie Sanders, who often aligns with Democratic stances but has voiced opposition to Israel’s military actions, casting dissenting votes.
The visit of Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky to Capitol Hill did little to tilt the scales in favor of additional aid.
The declaration made on Wednesday indicates the sourcing of this aid from the Defense Department’s existing inventories, a maneuver bypassing the need for Congressional sanction.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed urgency in his statement regarding the aid, stressing the necessity for Congress to expedite action, underscoring that continued support for Ukraine is important to safeguarding US national security interests and aiding Ukraine’s self-defense and democratic resilience.
The Secretary added, “Our aid has been necessary in empowering our Ukrainian allies in safeguarding their sovereignty and liberty in the face of Russian hostility.”
This month also saw a sizable EU aid package for Ukraine hit a roadblock, obstructed by Hungary. With Ukraine witnessing a $43 billion budget shortfall, without additional Western aid, the postponement of government wages and retiree pensions looms, as stated by officials.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy, Yulia Svyrydenko, emphasized the crucial nature of partner support, stating the urgency of the need.
The paper indicated progress in negotiations for a smaller aid package that could circumvent the necessity for Hungary’s consent, with potential deliberation in early February.
As Western financial support for Ukraine shows signs of waning, Russian military offensives persist in the eastern part of the nation, marked by the recent capture of the critical town of Mariinka as acknowledged by Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu. The town, deeply entrenched in conflict for more than a year, has witnessed Ukrainian forces retract.