On February 7, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said the situation regarding the resumption of US funding for Kiev was “puzzling,” as Republican lawmakers opposed the latest aid package.
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| Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. (Source: Getty Imagesa) |
At a press conference with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell, Kuleba said that “everything is very confusing,” and affirmed that Kiev is coordinating with Washington and working to ensure that a decision on approving the new US aid package is made as soon as possible.
Ukraine's top diplomats also called on the EU to take "urgent steps" to increase deliveries of artillery shells, which Kiev says are urgently needed to protect the frontline.
Expecting the alliance to loosen regulations and sign “long-term contracts” with defense companies to boost artillery production, Foreign Minister Kuleba said: “If you ask a soldier on the front what he needs most now, the answer will be artillery shells.”
EU leaders overcame opposition from Hungary to agree a 50 billion euro, or about $54 billion, aid package for Ukraine last week, but support from Washington remains in doubt due to Republican opposition.
On the US side, according to AFP , on the same day, February 7, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced that the country can and will provide additional military aid to Kiev.
At a press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Mr. Sullivan said that there was no other choice but for the US to increase its participation and provide the necessary resources for artillery, air defense systems and other capabilities that Ukraine needed.
Confirming that time is very urgent, Mr. Sullivan believes that the US can still do this.
In a related development, in Russia, the Federation Council (Senate) has passed an official statement opposing Western countries' continued provision of weapons to Ukraine.
The statement stated that Ukrainian armed groups use weapons provided by NATO and EU member states, including the US, Germany, UK, France, Czech Republic and others, to carry out attacks.
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