NATO chief to meet US lawmakers to discuss aid to Ukraine
Photo: Europa Press
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will meet with United States lawmakers to discuss support for Ukraine.
He stated this during a joint press conference with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Rubryka reports.
"I will meet members of Congress tomorrow. And, of course, I'm looking forward to discussing many issues with them, including Ukraine," Stoltenberg said.
As the NATO chief noted, he is confident that all NATO members, including the United States, will continue to support Ukraine as it is in the interest of the alliance's security.
"It will be a tragedy for Ukrainians if President Putin wins, but it will also make the world more dangerous and us, all of us, more insecure," the secretary-general stressed. "It will embolden other authoritarian leaders, not only Putin but also North Korea, Iran, and China, to use force. Today, it's Ukraine. Tomorrow, it could be Taiwan."
Stoltenberg stressed that it was in the interest of NATO countries to ensure Ukraine's victory as a sovereign, independent state. Military aid has also allowed Kyiv to make significant achievements, inflicting heavy losses on Russian armed forces and pushing the Russian Black Sea fleet eastward, allowing Ukraine to export grain and other goods by sea.
"We should not underestimate the achievements the Ukrainians have already made. And if we want an end to this war, the only way to end this war is to convince Putin he will not win on the battlefield. And the only way to achieve that is to provide weapons to Ukraine, from the United States, from other Allies and partners," Stoltenberg concluded.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that the situation with the suspension of American aid to Ukraine has affected the battlefield.
What we know about US aid delay
The United States has run out of money designated for military aid to Ukraine. To allocate more funding, President Joe Biden requested over $100 billion from Congress, including over $60 billion for Ukraine.
Currently, Congress is divided on this package, as Republicans demand adding proposals to enhance border security, particularly with Mexico. Biden's request has yet to be approved.
In turn, Biden stressed the importance of Congress making decisions to provide Ukraine with necessary resources, including air defense and artillery, to protect against Russian invasion.
On January 17, US President Joe Biden discussed providing financial and military support to Ukraine with representatives from both houses of Congress. The White House urged swift approval of the $61.3 billion aid package to Ukraine and stressed the importance of strengthening border protection from illegal migrants from Mexico.
In turn, Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba reiterated his confidence that the US Congress will approve additional funding for Ukraine despite differences between representatives of the two parties on migration issues.
