In a move that has been welcomed by Ukrainian and Western leaders, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a $61 billion aid package, with $13.8 billion earmarked for Ukraine to purchase weapons to slow Russia’s advances in the ongoing war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude for the decision by U.S. lawmakers, stating that the aid package will send a powerful signal to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces are now preparing for an expected full-scale offensive by focusing on acquiring long-range weapons and improving air defenses.
The aid package has also been applauded by other Western leaders and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg. However, Russian officials have issued warnings that the aid will only further ruin Ukraine and result in more deaths.
The Pentagon think tank Institute for the Study of War has cautioned that the logistical challenges of getting U.S. assistance to the front line may cause setbacks for Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, on the ground in Ukraine, there have been reports of Russian troops taking control of a village and incidents of Russian shelling causing casualties.
In a separate incident, two suspects have been detained after Ukrainian soldiers killed a police officer at a checkpoint in the Vinnytsia region. Despite these challenges, the aid package still needs to be approved by the U.S. Senate, with President Joe Biden pledging to sign it immediately once it reaches his desk.
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