Russian invasion - Ukraine aid: Selenskyj to speak to US senators
According to information from Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi intends to address the US Senate personally in order to emphasize the urgency of further US aid for his country.
Zelenskyi will join a non-public meeting of senators today, announced the Democratic majority leader in the House of Representatives, Chuck Schumer. He asked everyone to take part in this "important briefing". It is about finding out directly from Selensky what is at stake.
According to the government, the funds previously approved by the US Congress for Ukraine will be completely used up by the end of the year. If Parliament does not act, the government will then have no funds left to procure further weapons and equipment for Ukraine or to deliver equipment from its own military stocks to Kiev, the Director of the National Budget Office, Shalanda Young, wrote in a letter to the leadership in both chambers of Congress published on Monday.
US President Joe Biden had already requested a huge billion-euro package from Congress in October, including fresh money for Ukraine. However, the release of new US aid for Ukraine continues to be blocked by a domestic political dispute between Democrats and Republicans in the US parliament. More and more Republicans are expressing doubts about support for Ukraine or rejecting it altogether. A recently passed transition budget once again contains no new funds for Ukraine.
Schumer called on his colleagues to "do the right thing" and push for the release of new funds. If Ukraine falls, Russian President Vladimir Putin will "carry on", he warned. Autocrats around the world would be emboldened. Ultimately, it was about defending democracy.
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- In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Volodymyr Selenskyj, the Ukrainian president, will meet privately with members of the US Senate, as announced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
- The Senate meeting with Selenskyj is seen as crucial in emphasizing the need for additional US government aid to Ukraine, following reports that the previous funding allocation will be depleted by year-end.
- President Joe Biden earlier petitioned the US Congress for a substantial financial package for Ukraine, including funding for further military support, but partisan politics in Washington continues to delay its release.
- The deadlock between Democrats and Republicans in the US Congress has left many Republicans expressing reservations or even rejecting support for Ukraine, making it difficult to secure new funding for Ukrainian aid.
- As outlined in a letter from the Director of the National Budget Office, Shalanda Young, the US Senate and Congress must act promptly to prevent a situation where Ukraine will have no funds left for procuring weapons or drawing on US military stockpiles.
- Chuck Schumer has implored his colleagues to prioritize the release of new funds for Ukraine, asserting that if Ukraine fails, Russian President Vladimir Putin will gain encouragement to continue aggressive military actions, ultimately threatening democracies worldwide.
- This week's US Senate meeting with Volodymyr Selenskyj is an opportunity for senators to directly engage with the Ukrainian leader and gain a clear understanding of the consequences of not providing the necessary assistance to Ukraine during this critical time.
- The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine demonstrates the importance of efficient governmental action and bipartisan cooperation in the US Congress, as the future of regional security and global democracy may hinge on the timely delivery of military and financial aid to Ukraine.
Source: www.stern.de
