Kyiv [Ukraine], March 21: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that the country is in dire need of assistance to replenish its depleted ammunition stockpile, and expressed hope that US lawmakers will approve a $60 billion aid package that is currently in short supply. stuck on Capitol Hill.
But US House Speaker Mike Johnson is still determined to resist pressure to call for a vote on the bill that includes the above aid package and budget for Taiwan and Israel . On March 20, Mr. Johnson signaled that he would not refuse to provide additional aid to Kyiv beyond the approved $110 billion, and promised to return to this issue "immediately" after lawmakers The US passes the 2024 federal budget, which has been delayed many times.
"There are a number of avenues that we are looking at... We have to show strength on the world stage and we will do that," AFP quoted Mr. Johnson as telling reporters.
However, the US Congress is expected to recess from early next week until April 8 and activities in both chambers for the remainder of this week will mainly focus on negotiations on the government's budget.
"The longer the supplemental budget bill related to national security issues sits on President Johnson's desk, the more desperate the situation in Ukraine becomes," said Senator Chuck Schumer, leader of the Democratic Party in Washington. The US Senate, lamented on March 20.
He warned that Ukraine was facing a shortage of not only ammunition but also soldiers, and announced that the US House of Representatives would strongly support the above aid package if Mr. Johnson allowed it to proceed. vote in this legislature.
"Russia is currently producing three times more artillery and ammunition than the United States and Europe, and Ukrainian forces are suffering the consequences on the ground," Mr. Schumer said.
During a visit to Kyiv on March 20, White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the new US aid package would "go to Ukraine" and pledged that Washington's support would not stop.
"From our perspective, we are confident that we will get this done. We will deliver this aid to Ukraine," Mr. Sullivan said at a joint press conference after meeting with President Andriy Yermak's Chief of Staff. President of Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Mr. Sullivan did not specify the exact time when Washington could approve or provide new aid to Kyiv, but said there was no need to talk about "plan B", seemingly dismissing suggestions that aid could be provided in the form of a loan.
"I'm confident that we will achieve plan A. We will have a vote in the US House of Representatives with strong bipartisan support for the Ukraine aid package and we will put that money out there." out the door the way it should have been done," he said, admitting that the process "took too long."
Source: Thanh Nien Newspaper