The Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, promised this Wednesday a plan so that Ukraine can finance itself in the future and stop depending on US military and economic aid.
But for now, Blinken clarified, it is still necessary for the United States Congress to approve the urgent $61 billion package that US President Joe Biden has requested for Ukraine.
In a press conference to review the year, the Secretary of State warned that the money the US Government has to support Ukrainians is “running out” and asked Republican legislators to approve new funds because there is no “cash magic” from which to draw new resources.
“We have made a huge investment in the future of Ukraine and its freedom. It makes no sense for us to renege on that investment now after everything we have done,” he said.
The head of US diplomacy promised that he has “a very clear plan” to ensure that “Ukraine can fend for itself militarily and economically so that these levels of support are no longer necessary.”
“But we have to help them for a while. For the winter to pass. For the spring and summer to pass,” Blinken pointed out.
In addition, he added that he is “focused” on the Kiev Government having a strategy “not only to stop Russian aggression, but also to continue recovering the territories occupied by the Russians.”
Blinken said the only thing he “agrees” on with Russian President Vladimir Putin is that they both believe “continued US support is critical” for Ukraine to win the war.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was recently in Washington, on his third visit since the start of the war, to try to lift the Republicans’ blockade on the approval of new aid in Congress.
The conservative opposition demands from Biden a more restrictive immigration policy in exchange for voting in favor of aid for Ukraine.
