The US House of Representatives gave final approval on Friday (23) to a $45 billion aid package for Ukraine. The approval comes at a time when Ukrainian President Volodymir Zelensky is warning Ukrainians of the possibility that Russia may carry out new attacks during Christmas and asks them to stay alert.
The House-approved package will now be forwarded to President Joe Biden’s sanction.
In a tweet thanking Congress and the leaders of the Democratic and Republican parties, Zelensky said it was “crucial” that Americans stand “side by side” with Ukrainians “in this fight.”
The new military and economic aid package adds to $50 billion in aid to Ukraine released this year, as well as Western sanctions against Russia, which now include a cap on the price of Russian oil.
Russia reacted to the ceiling on Friday (23) by threatening to reduce oil production by 5% to 7% at the beginning of next year, by interrupting the supply of fuel to countries that support the sanction.
Zelensky returned from his visit to Washington – the first time he has left Ukraine since the Russian invasion on Feb. 24 – with a promise from the Americans to supply Patriot missiles to boost Ukraine’s air defenses.
Zelensky had been calling for the deployment of Patriot missiles to counter Russian missile and drone attacks against the country’s civilian infrastructure, including the country’s electrical system.
Millions of Ukrainians are without electricity, water and heating in sub-zero temperatures.
However, US officials have said the one promised Patriot missile system is not enough to turn the tide of the war.
In his weekly video, Zelensky warned Ukrainians that Russia could launch more attacks over Christmas and urged them to “heed airstrike alarms, help each other, and take care of each other.”
“With the holiday season approaching, Russian terrorists can resume their activities,” said the Ukrainian leader. “They don’t care about Christian values, or any kind of values.”
Zelensky said he had met with his commanders to review the military situation and said his government was “preparing for different scenarios of actions by the terrorist state. We are going to react.”
Kiev and the Biden administration think it will be more difficult to win support from the House of Representatives for aid packages next year, when Republicans will control by a narrow margin. Some lawmakers from the far right wing of the Republican Party oppose the packages and other lawmakers call for greater oversight.
The president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, paid a visit last Friday (23) to the city of Tula, known for its concentration of weapons factories. Putin was filmed urging defense industry leaders to increase production of weapons for the front.
Ukraine managed to drive Russian forces out of the region around the capital, Kiev, and the country’s second-largest city, Kharkiv. Now, Moscow is focused on maintaining control of areas occupied by Russian forces in southern and eastern Ukraine.
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