Published December 28, 2023
The United States announced on Wednesday it had released its last tranche of military aid for Ukraine.
The White House approved $250 million (€225 million) in support, but more will need fresh approval from Congress.
Ukraine has warned it cannot fight Russia without further support from the West.
The Kremlin, for its part, has banked on waning Western aid as key to an eventual win in Ukraine.
“It is imperative that Congress act as soon as possible to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Wednesday.
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SOURCE: www.euronews.com
RELATED: The Biden Administration Is Quietly Shifting Its Strategy in Ukraine
President Joe Biden has shifted from promising the U.S. would back Ukraine for “as long as it takes,” to saying the U.S. will provide support “as long as we can” and contending that Ukraine has won “an enormous victory already. | Evan Vucci/AP
Published December 27, 2023
For two years, Biden and Zelenskyy have been focused on driving Russia from Ukraine. Now Washington is discussing a move to a more defensive posture.
Biden administration and European officials are quietly shifting their focus from supporting Ukraine’s goal of total victory over Russia to improving its position in an eventual negotiation to end the war, according to a Biden administration official and a European diplomat based in Washington. Such a negotiation would likely mean giving up parts of Ukraine to Russia.
The White House and Pentagon publicly insist there is no official change in administration policy — that they still support Ukraine’s aim of forcing Russia’s military completely out of the country. But along with the Ukrainians themselves, U.S. and European officials are now discussing the redeployment of Kyiv’s forces away from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s mostly failed counteroffensive into a stronger defensive position against Russian forces in the east, according to the administration official and the European diplomat, and confirmed by a senior administration official. This effort has also involved bolstering air defense systems and building fortifications, razor wire obstructions and anti-tank obstacles and ditches along Ukraine’s northern border with Belarus, these officials say. In addition, the Biden administration is focused on rapidly resurrecting Ukraine’s own defense industry to supply the desperately needed weaponry the U.S. Congress is balking at replacing.
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SOURCE: www.politico.com
RELATED: US releases final tranche of authorised military aid for Ukraine
The US government on Wednesday announced what it said was the last remaining package of weapons available for Ukraine under existing authorization, with Congress now needing to decide whether to keep supporting Kyiv’s battle against Russian invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) and US President Joe Biden hold a news conference on December 12, 2023 in Washington, DC. © Chip Somodevilla, Getty Images via AFP
Published December 28, 2023
“The year’s final package” includes air-defense and artillery munitions, the State Department said in a statement. It added that Congress, where Republicans are split on supporting Ukraine, should “act swiftly” to renew the flow.
President Joe Biden has made backing Ukraine a priority and US weapons and financial assistance have been crucial in helping the pro-Western country battle against a far larger attacking Russian force.
However, right-wing Republicans have led a push to halt the effort, refusing to authorize new budget outlays if the Democrats don’t first agree to sweeping, tough new measures against illegal migration over the US southern border.
The statement underlined the US-led coalition helping Ukraine, noting that “more than 50 countries” are involved.
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SOURCE: www.france24.com
