Russian invasion - Ukraine receives small military package from the USA - Republicans block further aid
Ukraine is receiving further military aid from the USA and support from the G7 - but a breakthrough with reliable financial commitments from Washington is a long time coming. US President Joe Biden is urging Congress to approve new aid for Ukraine, which has been attacked by Russia. "This cannot wait. Congress needs to approve additional funding for Ukraine before it goes on vacation, it's that simple," Biden said at the White House.
The head of the Kiev presidential office, Andriy Yermak, made it clear in Washington on Wednesday that Ukraine would lose the war imposed by Russia without US help. Jermak and a delegation of top Ukrainian politicians are currently talking to partners in the USA in order to avert the threat of a halt to aid. Defense Minister Lloyd Austin received his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umjerow.
In a video link with Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Selensky proposed joint arms production with the USA. Thursday night began for Ukraine once again with attacks by Russian combat drones and air alerts in many parts of the country. The air defense in the regions of Odessa in the south and Khmelnytskyi in the northwest took the drones under fire, as reported on social media. This is the 652nd day of war for Ukraine.
Biden urges release of Ukraine aid
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. The release of new aid is being blocked by domestic political disputes between Democrats and Republicans in the US Parliament.
More and more Republicans are expressing doubts about support for Ukraine or rejecting it altogether. The Republicans also want more money for the protection of the US border. There is no movement. On Wednesday evening (local time), the Democrats in the Senate failed at a formal hurdle due to resistance from the Republicans to even put a bill with Ukraine aid up for debate in the House of Representatives. A solution that would be capable of gaining a majority in both chambers of Congress is nowhere near in sight.
President Biden warned that the world was watching and said that aid for Ukraine was "in our overwhelming national interest and in the international interest of all our friends". He warned that Kremlin boss Vladimir Putin would continue his aggression after the fall of Ukraine. If Putin attacked NATO states, American troops would suddenly have to fight against Russian troops.
New small US aid package with ammunition
At the same time, the US government announced further military aid. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the new package of weapons and equipment would be worth up to 175 million US dollars (around 162 million euros). It comes from the limited remaining funds previously approved by Congress.
Selensky proposed joint armaments projects to representatives of the US defense industry. "We are interested in jointly producing the entire range of weapons required for modern warfare," he said in a video address. "This includes guns, armored vehicles and drones. Repair and maintenance of equipment. Security on land, in the air and at sea." Ukraine has also agreed joint armaments projects with Poland, Germany and the UK.
G7 targets Russia's diamond trade
Due to Moscow's war of aggression, the Group of Seven major industrialized nations (G7) wants to cut Russian revenues from diamond exports. Starting in 2024, the G7 will restrict the import of rough diamonds mined or processed in Russia. This was decided by the heads of state and government in an online meeting chaired by Japan. In addition to host Japan, the G7 countries also include Germany, France, Italy, Canada, the USA and the UK. The EU is also planning punitive measures against the Russian diamond trade in its upcoming sanctions package.
Putin appoints dozens of new generals
Russian President Putin made a short trip to the Gulf on Wednesday to coordinate with the oil states of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Due to the war in Ukraine, Putin is largely isolated internationally and can no longer travel much.
Meanwhile, a presidential decree was published in Moscow in which he awarded dozens of general ranks in the army and security forces. Almost 70 officers were given a new rank. These include men who have been blamed by Russian military bloggers in the past for high army losses in Moscow's war of aggression against Ukraine.
Retired Brigadier General: No diplomatic solution with Putin
Retired Brigadier General Klaus Wittmann sees no peace solution at the negotiating table in Russia's war of aggression against its neighbor Ukraine. "There will be no diplomatic solution with Putin," said Wittmann in an interview with Mediengruppe Bayern (Thursday). "He may not be irrational, as some claim, but he is obsessed."
Wittmann, who teaches contemporary history at the University of Potsdam, blames Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for the faltering Ukrainian counter-offensive. If heavy weapons had been delivered earlier, for example, the Russian military would not have had the time to prepare and expand their lines of defense. "If we are now standing on the sidelines and criticizing the fact that Ukraine is not making real progress, we must remember that we have a part to play in this."
This will be important on Thursday
The EU and China will discuss the international situation, including the war in Ukraine, at a summit in Beijing. Although China has condemned Moscow's occasional threats to use nuclear weapons, it is otherwise clearly committed to its ally Russia. Nevertheless, the EU hopes to exert influence on Moscow via Beijing.
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- Despite the G7's support and the USA's small military package, the future of further aid for Ukraine is uncertain due to the blocking by Republicans in Congress.
- Andrij Jermak, the head of the Kiev presidential office, emphasized the importance of US aid to Ukraine during his visit to Washington, fearing the war would be lost without it.
- President Volodymyr Selensky of Ukraine proposed joint arms production with the USA to strengthen their defense capabilities, as they continue to face attacks from Russia.
- Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader, appointed dozens of new generals in the army and security forces, despite international isolation and criticism for his war of aggression against Ukraine.
Source: www.stern.de
