Ukraine: The End of US Aid “Will Allow Putin to Win” According to Washington
The US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan, urged the US Congress on Monday to vote for additional funding for Ukraine, otherwise Russian President Vladimir Putin will win the war.
The war in Ukraine, which began in February 2022 when Russia launched a full-scale invasion of its neighbor, has been one of the most serious security challenges for the United States and its allies. Since then, the US has provided more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, including humanitarian, financial, and military support. The US has given more to Ukraine than any other country, and many Western analysts say the US aid has played a pivotal role in Ukraine’s defense and counteroffensive against Russia.
However, the US aid is not unlimited, and the Biden administration has requested another $24 billion from Congress to replenish the Pentagon’s arsenal with equipment sent to Ukraine and to address other urgent needs. The White House has warned that without this funding, Ukraine could lose the war and Russia could achieve its revanchist aims in the region.
In a press conference on Monday, Sullivan said that the US aid was essential for Ukraine’s survival and for the stability of Europe. He said that Russia was using its military, economic, and political power to undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and to threaten the security of NATO and the European Union. He said that Putin was hoping to exploit the US domestic political divisions and the lack of consensus in Congress to delay or block the funding for Ukraine.
“If we do not act now, if we do not show our resolve and our solidarity with Ukraine, Putin will have a free hand to continue his aggression and to impose his will on the Ukrainian people. He will not stop until he achieves his objectives, which are to annex Crimea, to control the Donbas, and to destabilize the rest of Ukraine. He will also embolden other authoritarian regimes, such as China and Iran, to challenge the US and its allies in other parts of the world. This is not a scenario that we can afford to let happen,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan urged the Congress to pass the funding bill as soon as possible, and to send a clear message to Putin that the US stands with Ukraine and will not tolerate any further Russian aggression. He said that the US was also working with its allies and partners to provide more diplomatic, economic, and military support to Ukraine, and to impose more sanctions and pressure on Russia. He said that the US was ready to engage in dialogue with Russia, but only on the basis of respect for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and in accordance with the Minsk agreements and the Normandy format.
Sullivan also praised the leadership and courage of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited Washington last week and met with President Biden and other US officials. He said that Zelensky had shown his commitment to democracy, reform, and peace in Ukraine, and had expressed his gratitude for the US aid and solidarity. He said that Zelensky had also appealed to the US lawmakers to approve the additional funding for Ukraine, and to continue to support Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO and the EU.
“President Zelensky is a true friend and partner of the United States, and we are proud to stand with him and the Ukrainian people in this critical moment. We share their vision of a free, prosperous, and secure Ukraine, and we will do everything in our power to help them achieve it. We call on the Congress to do the same, and to act swiftly and decisively to approve the funding for Ukraine. This is not a partisan issue, this is a matter of national security and moral duty. The fate of Ukraine, and the future of Europe, depend on it,” Sullivan said.
