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BRUSSELS — European leaders praised the passage of a $60.8 billion Ukraine aid package by the U.S. House of Representatives on Saturday, but some warned that more support is urgently needed from Europe ahead of what’s expected to be fierce Russian offensives in the coming months.
The lower chamber of the U.S. Congress passed the measure in a 311-112 vote, overcoming fierce conservative opposition to the funding. U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration has stressed that, without the assistance, Ukraine could lose in its defense against Russia’s invasion by the end of the year.
“I welcome that the U.S. House of Representatives has approved a major new package of aid to Ukraine,” NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said in a post on social media. “Ukraine is using the weapons provided by NATO allies to destroy Russian combat capabilities. This makes us all safer, in Europe and North America.”
A senior Ukrainian officer greeted the news of the vote with a monosyllabic “great.” But when asked how long replenishments would take to reach the frontlines, he said it depended on many factors. “Implementation could take weeks and delivery months,” said the official, who was granted anonymity to speak freely.
Ukrainian leaders and military officials suspect Russia will launch an offensive in June or July and they say the recent targeting of Ukraine’s infrastructure has been a pre-offensive campaign.
“We’re grateful to the House of Representatives for this historic decision,” Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze, a former Ukrainian deputy prime minister and now opposition lawmaker, told POLITICO. “I hope the Senate will not hesitate and protract, as every day of failure to provide Ukraine with assistance brings the catastrophe of Western civilization closer,” she added.
“I hope the U.S. won’t let it happen!” Klympush-Tsintsadze said.
The marathon exercise to pass the U.S. bill, which still requires Senate approval, has over the last few weeks prompted Europe to explore additional military aid for war-torn Ukraine.
“Thank you, America!” tweeted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The vital U.S. aid bill passed today by the House will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger,” he said.
But opposition lawmaker Inna Sovsun questioned why it took so long to pass the bill. “Ukraine is very grateful! Just a question: was it necessary to delay half a year in order to vote? How many lives could have been saved?” Sovsun tweeted.
‘Our own homework’
Some European leaders seized on the U.S. vote to call on Europe not to get complacent and lose momentum now that Washington’s new support is expected to be on the way to Kyiv soon.
“Hope this vote encourages all allies to look through their warehouses and do more,” Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on X.
“Now is also the time to remember that the EU now have to increase our own production of armaments, ammunition and supplies to aid Ukraine on a long-term basis,” Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said. “Tonight’s vote shows the necessity of this. We have to do our own homework as well,” he added.
His Czech counterpart, Jan Lipavský, echoed the sentiment, saying: “Europe must do more, too. Our hesitation and indecision in effectively supporting Ukraine just motivate the Kremlin to further aggression that costs more lives.”
A crucial test for Europe will come on Monday, when the EU’s 27 foreign ministers gather in Luxembourg to plan future military aid for Kyiv. Ukraine’s foreign and defense ministers are scheduled to join the discussion virtually.
Before the weekend, European allies in NATO pledged to step up delivery of readily available air-defense systems to Ukraine, according to Stoltenberg.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, the key official behind the latest push for additional air-defense systems for Kyiv, hailed the U.S. legislative move.
“This is a day of optimism for Ukraine [and] European security,” Baerbock said on X.
