War in Ukraine: Kiev announces "working" with the United States, nothing approved on the side of the US Congress

Europe 1 with AFP 16:31 pm, October 01, 2023

On the 584th day of the Russian invasion, Kiev announced Sunday "working" with the United States, while the American Congress, which avoided in extremis the paralysis of the federal administration, has not yet approved new aid to Ukraine. "The Ukrainian government is actively working with its American partners to ensure that the new decision on the US budget, which will be taken in the next 45 days, will include new funding to help Ukraine," Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said.

$110 billion released since February 2022

"This situation will not prevent the flow of aid from continuing to arrive in Ukraine," he said. International support for Ukraine is crucial in the country's fight against Russia. The United States has helped Kiev the most, with some $110 billion in civilian and military aid released since February 2022.

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The United States avoided in extremis the paralysis of its federal administration, with the adoption by the Senate, only three hours before the "shutdown", of an emergency measure allowing to temporarily continue its financing. The emergency measure adopted by the US Congress provides that the US administration continues to be funded for 45 days. It excludes, however, the aid to war-torn Ukraine requested by the White House.

U.S. lawmakers must now consider a separate bill for $24 billion in military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which President Joe Biden wanted included in the budget. A vote could take place early next week, according to US media. A handful of Trumpist Republican elected officials refuse to release any new aid to Kiev, believing that these funds should be allocated to the management of the migration crisis.