Russian forces hit industrial warehouses in Lviv with Iranian-made Shahed-136/131 drones. The body of a dead worker was found under the rubble, and 2 more people were injured. September 19, 2023. Photo from the State Emergency Service of Ukraine
Washington: President Joe Biden today convened a call with NATO allies and “partners” to coordinate their ongoing support for Ukraine against Russia after the United States Congress didn’t include the $6 billion in military assistance that Ukraine said it urgently needed, in the stopgap spending bill it passed on Saturday, September 30, 2023. The leaders discussed efforts to provide Ukraine with the ammunition and weapons systems it needs to defend its territory, and also the ongoing work to align and broaden donor efforts to support Ukraine’s economic recovery.
As the US Congress debates the provisions, the Pentagon, White House and European allies urged the Congress, which has to date approved, according to the Congressional Research Service, $113 billion for Ukraine since the Russian invasion, to reconsider its stand.
With no clarity on the backing to Ukraine in the House of Representatives, where Republicans hold a majority, President Biden today reaffirmed the United States’ commitment towards supporting Ukraine “for as long as it takes as it defends its sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
The allies who joined President Biden on the call were Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada, President Ursula Gertrud von der Leyen of the European Commission, President Charles Michel of the European Council, Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni of Italy, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, President Andrzej Sebastian Duda of Poland, President Klaus Iohannis of Romania, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak of the United Kingdom, and Foreign Minister Catherine Colonna of France.
The Congress’s decision has been a setback to Biden. Last evening, the US State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller, made no bones about it stating, “I’d like to echo the President’s disappointment that, despite longstanding and strong bipartisan support for Ukraine as it fights back against Russia’s invasion, that the continuing resolution that passed Congress on Saturday did not include desperately needed support”. Responding to a question during a press conference on whether he was still convinced that Ukraine funding will come through at some point, Miller said, “As the President made clear, he does believe it will come through”. He added, “We think it’s important that Congress act… And so we are calling on Congress to fully fund our request to support Ukraine’s short- and long-term security assistance and also to allow the Pentagon to refill depleted Pentagon stocks, which is something that they’re not able to do without further action”.
To a question on what measures the Ukrainians need to take to root out and fight corruption to maintain the USA’s direct budget support, Miller said, “we have seen Ukraine take aggressive action, and that includes aggressive action as recently as the past few weeks, to tackle corruption. And we welcome them continuing to take these steps”.
Meanwhile, Ukraine stated today that Germany transferred it a new military aid package that included 14 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn; one bridge-laying tank Beaver; 2 mine clearing tanks Wisent; 99 SatCom terminals; 21 border protection vehicles; radio set equipment for Leopard tanks; almost 33,000 rounds ammunition 40mm; and other capabilities.
– global bihari bureau
