During a press briefing on Monday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre assured that the United States and its allies will continue to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. She stated that more aid for Ukraine will be provided “soon,” addressing concerns raised after American lawmakers did not include military assistance to Kiev in a recently passed short-term spending bill.
Jean-Pierre dismissed the notion that support for Ukraine from Western nations is diminishing, emphasizing that there is a strong international coalition backing Ukraine. She confidently stated, “And if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin thinks he can outlast us, he’s wrong. He’s wrong.” However, no specific details about the timeline or contents of the upcoming aid package were provided by the press secretary.
These statements come just two days after Congress passed a funding bill to ensure the functioning of the US government beyond September, but it did not include any aid for Ukraine. Jean-Pierre urged Congress to act swiftly, stating that they do not need to wait 45 days to address the issue.
However, concerns have been raised by some American lawmakers regarding how the money being sent to Ukraine is being utilized and how the Biden administration envisions an end to the conflict. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy expressed these concerns and called on the White House to arrange a briefing for lawmakers to outline a potential resolution to the ongoing conflict.
The situation is further complicated by the Pentagon’s warning that budget restrictions may impact the US’s ability to provide aid to Ukraine and replenish its own weapons stocks. If the funding requests are not met, the US Defense Department would need to restrict its supplies to Ukraine.
In September, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had emphasized the urgency of receiving aid from the US. He warned that Ukraine could “lose the war” if assistance was not provided in a timely manner. Ukrainian MP Aleksey Goncharenko also stressed the vital role of continued US support, even suggesting that Ukraine should commit to participating in US wars abroad to secure more military assistance.
As the situation unfolds, it is evident that the US and its allies remain committed to supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia. Despite concerns about the effective use of the aid and the path towards a resolution, it is clear that the international coalition backing Ukraine is determined to stand by their side. The upcoming aid package, which will be provided to Ukraine in the near future, aims to further strengthen the nation’s capabilities in the face of this ongoing conflict.
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