Ukrainian soldiers carry artillery shells to fire at Russian positions on the front line, near the city of Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, on March 25. The outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian army is struggling to stop Russia’s advance.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
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Efrem Lukatsky/AP
Ukrainian soldiers carry artillery shells to fire at Russian positions on the front line, near the city of Bakhmut, in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, on March 25. The outnumbered and outgunned Ukrainian army is struggling to stop Russia’s advance.
Efrem Lukatsky/AP
KYIV, Ukraine – Lawmaker Oleksandra Ustinova, who leads the Ukrainian parliament’s arms committee, has spent months calling on U.S. congressional leaders to stop blocking nearly $61 billion in military and economic aid. for her country.
She repeatedly warned them that the Russian army was advancing because Ukrainian soldiers were running out of ammunition and weapons.
Ustinova despaired because no one listened. Then, on Saturday, the House of Commons finally Approve the aid package. The bill provides nearly 61 billion USD in supportincluding nearly $14 billion to help Ukraine purchase advanced weapons systems and defense equipment and $13.7 billion to purchase US defense systems for Ukraine.
“I actually cried,” she said. “You can’t imagine how important it was for us. We had nothing to shoot with. Now there’s a green light at the end of the hallway.”
The vote took place after Russian air strikes hit several Ukrainian cities, killing dozens of people. The aid package is expected to pass the Senate. President Biden said the White House will quickly send weapons and equipment to Ukraine to “Meet the urgent needs of the battlefieldUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russia is firing 10 times more artillery shells than Ukraine is capable of and warned that Ukraine could lose the war if the House of Representatives does not pass an aid package.
Ukrainians are cheering the House of Representatives vote, which would provide new supplies of artillery shells and anti-aircraft missiles, while also supporting Ukraine’s economy, which is being hit hard after more than two years of Russian domination. comprehensive attack on this country. However, Ukraine’s relief at being able to fight to live another day is also mixed with anxiety about future US support.
House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spoke to reporters shortly after the House voted to approve $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, at the Capitol on Saturday.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., spoke to reporters shortly after the House voted to approve $95 billion in foreign aid to Ukraine, Israel and other U.S. allies, at the Capitol on Saturday.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP
In a video address on Saturday, Zelenskyy thanked House Speaker Mike Johnson and called on the US to continue supporting Ukraine in the future.
“America has shown its leadership from the first days of the war,” he said. “It is this type of American leadership that is critical to maintaining the rules-based international order.”
Zelenskyy and other Ukrainian leaders often warn that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine threatens Europe and the West, and that Ukrainian soldiers cannot stop the Russians alone.
Valentyn Romaniuk, a 22-year-old soldier of Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade, witnessed this firsthand on the eastern front lines, where his unit was defeated.
He lost a leg in combat and is now learning to walk with a prosthetic leg.
“Delays in aid from our partners not only cost people their lives, but also cost them limbs,” Romaniuk said as he sat resting on a park bench in Kyiv. “With all the dead and wounded, that leaves a lot less troops defending Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s military cited delays in military funding as the reason it had to ration ammunition. While Ukraine waited, its troops were forced to withdraw from Avdiivka, a strategic town in the east that Ukrainian forces had defended from Russian occupation for a decade. Emboldened, Russian forces increased their attacks along several points in eastern Ukraine.
Another soldier, Anton Tarasov, said that the new round of military aid “will be a huge morale boost, a huge morale boost. Because the Russians, they have been very encouraged throughout last time. And all their propaganda says that [to Ukrainians]’America has abandoned you, it’s time to give up, or we will kill you all.'”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that although this aid package will make America richer, it will further destroy Ukraine and kill even more Ukrainians. Peskov also condemned provisions in the bill that could allow the US to use frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian civilians say they have been surrounded by Russian attacks as they wait for the vote in the House of Representatives.
“A lot of people are dying,” Khrystyna Naridzhenyan, 25, said as she called customers at her family’s grocery store in Kyiv. “If there is any chance to stop this, we will wait.”
Her family’s grocery store was heavily damaged by shrapnel from recent Russian missile attacks. Above the store is a yellow banner that reads: “We’re working.”
She said the grocery store could have been avoided if Ukraine had stronger air defenses.
Ukraine does not have enough air defense systems to intercept all Russian missiles and drones. And those who make it through are deadly.
The strikes also caused enormous damage to infrastructure. World Bank and European Commission estimate that it will cost nearly $500 billion to repair and rebuild Ukraine. Bills continue to increase because of the constant attacks.
Valentyna Maksymenko, 64, also works at the grocery store. She said Ukrainians will continue to fight, even if American support is no longer there.
“But it will be very difficult for us,” she said. “Many of us will be destroyed.”
At a park in Kyiv, Serhii Bykon, a 44-year-old IT specialist, is watching his young son run around a playground rebuilt after the Russian attack.
He said the US aid package would give Ukraine a fighting chance now. However, he does not count on US support in the future, especially if the government changes.
“There is so much uncertainty,” he said. “That’s why we can’t feel safe.”
NPR’s Philip Reeves contributed reporting
