2023-12-05 20:54:48
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky canceled his planned speech to the US Congress on Tuesday due to a “last minute” event, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said.
“Zelensky cannot make it to our briefing at 3:00 p.m., something happened at the last minute,” the American elected official told the press. The Ukrainian president was to speak virtually before the American Congress, hoping to obtain the release of a new, highly debated but crucial package for his country at war.
Washington is the largest provider of military aid to Kiev, having committed tens of billions of dollars since the Russian invasion in February 2022. But Democratic President Joe Biden’s promise to continue financial support to Ukraine is in serious doubt. in danger, a disaster scenario for kyiv, whose disappointing counter-offensive did not bring the hoped-for territorial gains.
The American Congress, which has so far validated the gigantic envelopes of military, humanitarian and macroeconomic aid for kyiv, is made up of two chambers. In the House of Representatives, dominated by conservatives, a handful of right-wing elected officials are calling for an immediate end to aid to kyiv. In the Senate, with a Democratic majority, the Republican opposition is rather in favor of supporting Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials insist that they need more weapons to prevent Russian strikes from plunging millions of people into darkness this winter, like last year.
The White House itself sounded the alarm on Monday, assuring that American military aid to Ukraine could be cut sharply in the coming weeks, in the absence of a budget agreement with the Republican opposition. “If Congress does not act, by the end of the year we will run out of resources to deliver more weapons and equipment to Ukraine and to supply material from U.S. military stockpiles,” wrote White House Budget Director Shalanda Young.
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