President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has issued a stark warning, emphasizing that his country “will lose the war” against Russia if the United States Congress does not approve military aid to bolster its resistance to the ongoing invasion. Zelensky’s urgent plea comes amid Congress’s prolonged delay in passing vital assistance packages for Ukraine, leaving Kyiv grappling with critical shortages in manpower and ammunition.
During a video meeting of the Ukrainian fund-raising group UNITED24 on Sunday, April 7, Zelensky directly addressed Congress, stressing the critical importance of their support. He underscored that without assistance, Ukraine’s ability to withstand the aggression from Russia would be severely compromised, potentially resulting in dire consequences not only for Ukraine but for other nations as well.
Zelensky highlighted the gravity of the situation, pointing out that failure to provide aid could lead to further aggression against other countries. The US Senate had previously passed a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill containing provisions for Ukraine and Israel. However, House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to schedule a vote on the aid package specifically earmarked for Ukraine, despite mounting pressure.
Zelensky has previously warned that the stakes are incredibly high, with potentially catastrophic consequences if aid is not forthcoming from US lawmakers. Despite initial setbacks, Ukraine managed to repel Russia’s initial assault on its capital and reclaim some of the territories seized by the aggressor. However, the conflict has reached a stalemate, with Russia maintaining control over a significant portion of Ukrainian territory.
In a separate statement, Zelensky cautioned that Russia may escalate the situation by introducing nuclear weapons into the equation, posing a grave threat to regional stability. With tensions escalating, the need for swift and decisive action from the international community, particularly the United States, has never been more urgent.