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President Joe Biden apologized to Ukrainian President Zelenskyy for Congress’s delay in military aid.
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Resistance from conservative Republicans caused the delay in the $61 billion aid package.
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Russian forces made gains on the battlefield while military aid was suspended.
US President Joe Biden publicly apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for Congress’ prolonged delay in military aid while Russian forces made significant advances on the battlefield, the Associated Press reported.
The two leaders were in Paris to attend ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.
“I apologize for those weeks of not knowing what’s going to happen in terms of funding,” Biden told Zelenskyy.
The $61 billion military aid package that the US Congress finally approved in April was delayed for six months, largely due to resistance from conservative Republican lawmakers.
“We’re still in. Completely. Completely,” Biden assured his Ukrainian counterpart.
Zelenskyy said: “It is very important that in this unity, the United States of America, all the American people stand with Ukraine as happened during the Second World War.”
Ahead of the anniversary of the D-Day landings, French President Emmanuel Macron also announced increased military aid to Ukraine, including the provision of Mirage combat aircraft and training for Ukrainian troops.
“The delay in aid was an inexcusable pause”
Last month, Retired US Air Force Colonel and military analyst Cedric Leighton told CNN that stalled US aid could reach Ukraine too late to avoid Russian advances.
“The delay in aid was, frankly, an inexcusable pause in the Ukrainians’ ability to defend themselves against Russian advances,” Leighton said.
An American volunteer fighting in Ukraine told Business Insider’s Sinéad Baker that Ukrainian forces were “overwhelming” in the battle of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine, until a shortage of shells meant that Russian artillery could outfire them by about 20 times.
Ukraine Withdrew from the city in Februarygiving Russia its first major victory in months.
Meanwhile, Ukraine is currently defending itself from a significant Russian offensive in its eastern regions, particularly around Kharkiv and Donetsk.
Russian forces are still making progress along the eastern front and are expected to take the village of Ivanivske within days, Kiev-based independent journalist Asami Terajima told Business Insider.
Political polarization and the upcoming US elections in November could complicate the approval of more aid.
Read the original article at Business Insider
