After a long standstill, the US Congress wants to vote on new aid for Ukraine. The head of the US secret service warns that these are sorely needed. The news at a glance.
Without new US aid, Ukraine could lose the war against Russia by the end of the year, according to CIA Director William Burns.
If the US Congress does not approve new aid, there is “a very real risk that the Ukrainians could lose on the battlefield by the end of 2024 or at least put (Russian President Vladimir) Putin in a position where he could essentially control the political conditions could dictate,” said the head of the US Secret Service at an event in Dallas, Texas. “There is a tremendous amount at stake here.”
After months of deadlock, House Republican leader Mike Johnson has announced the upcoming vote on new US support for this weekend. If approved, the second chamber, the Senate, would come into play. US President Joe Biden says he wants to sign the law “immediately” following the resolution by Congress.
Burns explained that new military aid would provide a boost – “both practical and psychological” – and enable Ukrainians to maintain their defenses throughout the year, “contradicting Putin’s arrogant view that time is on on his side”.
The USA is considered Ukraine’s most important ally in the fight against the Russian invasion. According to the US government, the funds already approved by Congress have been used up – which is why the planned vote is of great importance.
More support from NATO
NATO defense ministers promised Ukraine the delivery of additional air defense systems at an emergency meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this following the discussions held via video conference in Brussels. “The NATO defense ministers have agreed to increase and further expand their military support, including in the area of air defense,” he said.
The Norwegian initially did not say who made the commitments after the meeting of the so-called NATO-Ukraine Council. Specific announcements should therefore be made by individual member states in the next few days. According to Stoltenberg, countries that do not have available air defense systems themselves agreed to provide financial support for the purchase of systems for Ukraine.
Attack on Odessa
The Russian military has attacked the Ukrainian port city of Odessa with missiles. The port’s infrastructure was hit, local military administrator Oleh Kiper said on Telegram. “The Odessa region is once again attacked by the enemy,” he wrote. “The port infrastructure was damaged.” A man was injured in the attack. At the same time, the military administrator reminded the population to heed the alarm signals and to seek shelter in good time.
According to regional media reports, several powerful explosions were heard in the city. Dense smoke later developed over the area hit by rockets. No further details were given about the impact of the Russian attack.
Russia reaffirms its claim to Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow’s claim to control over Ukraine, which has been at war for more than two years, in a radio interview. At most, the future of western Ukraine is unclear, Lavrov told several Russian broadcasters in Moscow. Otherwise there will only be a Ukraine “that is truly Russian, that wants to be part of the Russian world, that wants to speak Russian and raise its children,” he said. Nothing else is out of the question.
Russia does not want to attack NATO states, as is claimed there, in order to scare voters, said Lavrov. “But if they want to push NATO’s borders to our borders, then of course we will know how to prevent that in Ukraine.”
Like other Moscow representatives, Lavrov said that Russia was ready for talks with Ukraine. But he named conditions. There will be no ceasefire during possible negotiations. Talks with Zelensky are pointless. Kyiv must abandon its peace formula.
Zelensky visits eastern Ukrainian front
Zelenskyj visited a command point near the embattled city of Chasiv Yar during a trip to the Donetsk front region in eastern Ukraine. The head of state said on Telegram that he was informed about the situation on site. He then awarded medals to soldiers. The small town of Chassiv Yar is considered the next target of the Russian army. The front runs a few kilometers from the city center. Chasiv Yar is not far from the city of Bakhmut, which was taken by the Russians almost a year ago after heavy fighting.
