This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will meet with President Biden and other top U.S. officials to discuss the significant aid package up for debate in Congress.
Zelensky’s meeting with U.S. senators and House speaker Mike Johnson is expected to be contentious, given the amount of aid at stake and the concessions the Republicans are trying to obtain regarding the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the aid in question enjoys overwhelming bipartisan support and is, therefore, likely to be approved by Congress one way or another.
War In Ukraine Continues
While Russia is continuing its bombardment of eastern Ukraine, as has been the case for nearly two years, they have reportedly begun launching cruise missiles “aimed at degrading Ukraine’s energy infrastructure,” as winter approaches, per the U.K. Ministry of Defence.
In early December, Putin authorized a decree to increase Russian forces by 15 percent, adding approximately 170,000 personnel to bolster the army’s numbers. This war is far from over, and Zelensky is relying on the U.S. and European allies to continue their assistance.
The U.S. has been steadily supplying Ukraine with the weaponry needed to successfully deflect Russian drone and missile attacks. Nevertheless, the Ukrainians are apparently depleting their supplies.
“Ukraine is running out of ammunition. And if we don’t solve this in the next few weeks, Vladimir Putin is going to have an opening,” said Senator Chris Murphy (D-CT), “an opening to march through the Ukrainian lines to make a move on Kyiv, threatening all of Europe.”
Stalemate or Victory? What Happens Now?
In eastern Ukraine, the grinding military conflict does not appear to favor either side. Some experts claim that Ukraine is doomed to defeat, while others believe that a stalemate or victory may be possible. All that is known for sure is that hundreds of thousands of soldiers and civilians have died in this war and that the U.S. and the West, more broadly, are still shouldering the financial costs.
Thus far, the U.S. has sent roughly $75 billion to Ukraine in the form of military, humanitarian, and financial aid, while the nations in the Eurozone have sent around $90 billion. The combined amount of aid Ukraine has received from countries around the world totals a monumental $233 billion.
It should be noted as well that only around 30-40% of the weapons being sent into Ukraine actually make it to the front lines. Ukraine harbors a notorious black market, which is undoubtedly the destination of many of the stolen supplies.
Zelensky Requests Support
Despite the questionable conduct inside his country, Zelensky is still leading the nation in an existential fight. Speaking on Monday at Washington D.C.’s National Defense University, Zelensky stated, “It’s crucial that politics don’t even try to betray [the] soldier, because just like weapons are needed for defense, freedom always requires unity. The whole world is watching us, observing [the] destiny of the free nation.”
Pleading for the United States not to give up its support for a Ukrainian victory, he continued, “[Ukrainians] haven’t given up and won’t give up. We know what to do. And you can count on Ukraine. And we hope just as much to be able to count on you.”
