US acknowledges delay in Ukraine aid package, but warns ‘no silver bullet’
The United States has finally approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, but acknowledges that it is not a “silver bullet” and that further challenges lie ahead.
The delay in passing the package has weakened Ukraine’s position on the battlefield, and analysts say it has come at a cost. The package includes nearly $14 billion to train, equip, and finance the Ukrainian army, but it cannot address the shortage of manpower.
The US and Ukraine have discussed the manpower issue, and Kyiv has reduced the minimum age for military conscription and stopped issuing new passports abroad to military-aged Ukrainian men.
Despite the aid package, Ukraine’s position remains difficult, and it will need continued support from the US and Europe, which needs to ramp up weapons production.
Biden signs Ukraine aid package
President Joe Biden quickly signed the Ukraine aid package into law on Wednesday after it passed Congress. He acknowledged that the bill “should have gotten there sooner.”
Sullivan warns ‘no silver bullet’
Jake Sullivan, Biden’s National Security Advisor, said the aid package “will make a difference,” but warned “there is no silver bullet in this conflict.” He added that “Ukraine’s position in this conflict will improve and we believe that Ukraine can and will win.”
Kyiv relies on US military aid
Kyiv has been heavily reliant on billions of dollars of US military aid in its war with Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. But in recent months Ukrainian forces – outgunned and outmanned – have struggled to hold back Russian troops.
Delay in passing aid package had a cost
Garret Martin, of the American University School of International Service in Washington, said the delay by US lawmakers in passing the aid package “had a cost.” He added that “the package cannot do is deal with the shortage of manpower.”
Europe needs to ramp up weapons production
Max Bergmann, of the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said that the impact of American aid would depend on European efforts. He said that “Europe’s goal should be to put itself in a position to potentially fill a future gap left by the United States should it not pass another supplemental.”
