US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday that Washington has a plan so that Ukraine can finance itself in the future and no longer rely on military and economic aid from the United States.
But for the time being, Blinken clarified during a press conference to look back on the year 2023, it is still necessary for the US Congress to approve the urgent package of 61 billion dollars (55 billion euros) that North American President Joe Biden had asked for. for Ukraine.
The secretary of state warned that the state government’s money to support Kiev is running out and asked Republican members of Congress to approve new funds because there is no “magic chest” from which to draw new resources.
“We have made a huge investment in the future of Ukraine and its freedom. There is no point in abandoning that investment now, after all we have done.”he declared.
The head of US diplomacy said he had “a very clear plan” to ensure that “Ukraine can defend itself militarily and economically, so these levels of support are no longer necessary”.
“But we have to help them for a while. To let the winter pass. To let the spring and summer pass”marked Blinken.
Moreover, he added that he is focused on ensuring that the Kiev government has a strategy “not only to stop Russian aggression, but also to continue reconquering Russian-occupied territories”.
Blinken said the only thing he agrees with Russian President Vladimir Putin is that they both believe “continued support from the United States is critical” for Ukraine to win the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy was recently in Washington, on his third visit since the start of the war, in February 2022, to try to lift the Republican blockade on the approval of new aid in Congress.
The conservative opposition is demanding a more restrictive immigration policy from Biden in exchange for a vote in favor of aid to Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, on the grounds of protecting pro-Russian separatist minorities in the east and “denazifying” the neighboring country, which has been independent since 1991 after the collapse of the former Soviet Union and has since been away from Moscow’s power. create a space of influence and get closer to Europe and the West.
Since the fall, Moscow has stepped up night-time attacks on Ukrainian cities, at a time when doubts are being raised about continued Western military support for Kiev.
The war in Ukraine has already caused tens of thousands of deaths on both sides, but no significant progress has been made in recent months, with the two warring sides remaining irreducible to their territorial positions and unopen to negotiating concessions.
Source: DN
