Senate Democratic leader urges approval of aid to Ukraine
Photo: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (flickr.com)
Ukrainian soldiers, under President Zelenskyy's leadership, remain resolute in defending their homeland, but they face a shortage of weapons. Approval from the U.S. Congress for aid, as requested by President Joe Biden, is crucial, according to the Majority Leader in the U.S. Senate, Chuck Schumer.
The war in Ukraine, as emphasized by Schumer, is a conflict that is reshaping history. Negotiators in the Senate are actively working on finalizing an additional agreement on national security.
"At a time of growing crisis around the world, our supplemental package is America’s answer to this decisive moment in world history. The world stands at a crossroads: the war happening in Ukraine is not just between one nation defending itself against another, but between tyranny and democracy itself," Schumer emphasized.
Schumer added that the conflict in Ukraine is a transformative event in history and can potentially restore the balance of power among Western democracies, a balance preserved since the end of the Cold War.
Running out of weapons for the Ukrainian Armed Forces
President Zelenskyy has been vocal about the determination of Ukrainian fighters who have not wavered in their resolve to defend their homeland. However, they are facing a critical shortage of ammunition and weapons, and the role of America in ensuring their supply is crucial.
Risks of not approving aid for Ukraine
Schumer highlighted that without Senate approval for an increase in aid to Ukraine, the ongoing war, currently tilting in favor of Russia due to a lack of weapons, could dramatically shift entirely in Russia's favor within a month.
"As I quoted yesterday, a Ukrainian officer said that for every five salvos the Russians fire at his troops, he can only fire one salvo back," the senator added.
Democracy under threat
Schumer reiterated that in past generations, both Democrats and Republicans would unite against Russian dictators, resisting them with all available means. They would not show weakness towards autocratic aggressors invading their neighbors and hoping for the decline of America.
He recalled a recent conversation with President Zelenskyy, where the Ukrainian leader emphasized the high stakes involved if they were to face failure.
Current situation with U.S. assistance for Ukraine
Looking back to the end of 2023, Congress failed to approve President Joe Biden's request to allocate over $100 billion for national security needs, including over $60 billion for Ukraine. Republicans were the stumbling block, insisting that the White House include their proposals to enhance border security in its request.
Recently, the White House announced that the United States no longer has the funds to provide Ukraine with new military aid packages. According to National Security Council Coordinator John Kirby, President Joe Biden has signed the last security assistance package for which "we have authority over the funds."
For more details on this and why an agreement on the southern border in the U.S. cannot only approve the budget but also the multibillion-dollar aid to our country, see the material by RBC-Ukraine.
