Without U.S. help, there is a high risk of losing the war with Russia - Presidential Office
Andriy Yermak, Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (Photo: RBC-Ukraine, Vitalii Nosach)
Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, stated that without the assistance of the United States of America, there is a significant risk that Ukraine may lose the war against Russia, according to "Voice of America."
While in Washington at an event at the Institute of Peace on December 5, Yermak called on the U.S. Congress to approve additional funding for Ukraine as quickly as possible.
"If the aid currently being discussed in Congress is delayed—I won't say rejected—it creates a significant risk that we will be in the same position. And, of course, this will likely make it impossible to continue liberating territories and create a significant risk of losing the war," the head of the President's Office emphasized.
He added that Ukraine needs not only military assistance but also budget support.
"Ukraine is currently working with partners to finalize the plan for next year. We want to win as quickly as possible because two years have already passed, and two years is a long time," Yermak noted.
The head of the President's Office added that the refusal of direct budget support for Ukraine poses a threat, as the Ukrainian government expects a budget deficit of $43 billion next year.
"Of course, without this direct budget support, it will be challenging to remain in the same positions... for people to truly survive in a situation where the war continues," he said.
Funding for assistance to Ukraine from the U.S.
Over the past month, a fierce political battle has unfolded in the U.S. Congress between Democrats and Republicans over projects for providing financial assistance to Ukraine and Israel, as well as funding for the security of the country's southern border with Mexico.
At the end of October, the U.S. had over $5.4 billion remaining for military assistance to Ukraine.
President Joe Biden requested $106 billion from Congress for assistance to Israel and Ukraine and for strengthening the defense-industrial complex. Of this amount, $61.3 billion was proposed to be allocated to Ukraine and $14.3 billion to Israel.
However, on November 2, the House of Representatives approved an alternative bill from newly-elected Speaker Mike Johnson, which provides military assistance of $14.3 billion exclusively to Israel, excluding Ukraine. The Democratic majority in the Senate blocked the consideration of this document.
Later, Johnson proposed a temporary two-stage funding project without considering assistance to Ukraine and Israel. On November 15, the Senate supported this bill to avoid a government shutdown.
Recently, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan stated that the United States would not be able to provide weapons to Ukraine if Congress did not support the bill on providing financial assistance to the country.
On December 6, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that he would advocate for voting against providing financial assistance to Ukraine. Republicans demand that any bill on assistance to Ukraine and Israel also includes changes aimed at strengthening the security of U.S. borders.
