Ukrainian President Urges Swift Passage of $60 Billion Aid Package by U.S. Senate

Ukrainian President Urges Swift Passage of $60 Billion Aid Bill by U.S. Senate

In a recent interview with NBC’s “Meet the Press”, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy expressed his gratitude for the passage of $60 billion in aid for Ukraine by the U.S. House of Representatives. However, he urged Washington to quickly turn the bill into law and proceed with the actual transfer of weapons, emphasizing the urgent need for long-range arms and air defense systems.

Zelenskiy stated that the passage of the bill would send a strong message to Russia that the United States stands by Ukraine and will not allow it to become “a second Afghanistan.” He emphasized the importance of receiving long-range weapons and air defense systems to strengthen the Ukrainian armed forces and improve their chances of victory on the battlefield.

The legislative package providing security assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan received broad bipartisan support in the House of Representatives. Aid for Ukraine had been delayed due to opposition from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, who had urged Republican lawmakers to block it.

With Russia slowly advancing in eastern Ukraine and increasing its bombardments of cities and towns, the need for Western military assistance has become more urgent. The bill now moves to the Democratic-majority Senate, where it is expected to be considered this week. Final passage is anticipated next week, allowing President Joe Biden to sign it into law.

Zelenskiy declined to provide a specific timeline for when Ukraine could “turn the corner on Russia,” but he emphasized that once the weapons arrive, Ukraine will have the opportunity to stabilize the situation in the eastern part of the country.

The Ukrainian President’s call for swift action by U.S. lawmakers highlights the critical need for support in the face of ongoing aggression from Russia. As the Senate prepares to consider the aid bill, the world watches to see how the international community will respond to the crisis in Ukraine.