"Putin Takes Advantage of Delay in US Aid to Ukraine to Aid Russian War Effort".
This was stated by the spokesman of the US National Security Council, John Kirby, "Kyiv Independent" reported.
Aid to Ukraine has been blocked in the US Congress since the fall of 2023. On February 13, the US Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid bill that includes $60 billion for Ukraine, as well as funds for Israel and other allies, but the proposal has yet to be approved by the House of Representatives.
After delaying a vote for weeks, House Speaker Mike Johnson said on February 29 that his chamber would consider the foreign aid bill "as soon as the government is funded."
Congressional leaders were able to pass a short-term temporary spending bill to avoid a partial government shutdown without funding for Ukraine.
The delay in US aid has put a significant strain on Ukraine's efforts to counter Russian aggression, causing ammunition shortages and contributing to the loss of the key frontline town of Avdeyevka.
Asked whether Putin was trying to exploit U.S. reluctance to send aid to Ukraine, Kirby said Ukraine's depleted munitions stockpile was helping Russia gain stronger military advantages.
"So part of that is trying to get them to draw down their stockpiles because he knows that now the US is not in a position to send significant support and aid to Ukraine. He's certainly benefiting from what he's seeing happening on Capitol Hill. And the dysfunction in our system there on Capitol Hill definitely allows him to put his military positions in a more advantageous position," the National Security Council spokesman said./BGNES
