Ukraine 'indifferent' to new US aid package
(Baonghean.vn) - The Washington Post reported that the "modest" US aid package for Ukraine worth 250 million USD was received "with indifference" by Kiev.
According to Mr. Yegor Chernev - Deputy Chairman of the Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee of the Ukrainian Parliament, this new aid package is only intended to "hold out for a while longer". Therefore, it will not help "change the situation on the battlefield" in a direction favorable to Kiev.
“This small aid package is proof to us that there are problems with US support for Ukraine,” Mr. Chernev complained, expressing hope that these difficulties will be temporary and will be resolved as soon as possible.
According to Ria Novosti, in this situation, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal has requested an urgent meeting with "donors" in Kiev next January, due to "growing uncertainty" regarding the country's budget.
"To maintain macroeconomic stability, we must receive full funding immediately and starting from January 2024. It is difficult to discuss recovery projects when we are barely able to meet the priorities related to survival in 2024," Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmygal said, stressing that Kiev cannot wait until March 2024 for a solution to this problem.
On December 28, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko said that if funding from the EU and the US is delayed in 2024, the people of this country may be deprived of social benefits. At the same time, according to Minister Sviridenko, in the immediate future, the government will have an alternative plan in the first months. However, Sviridenko warned that Kiev may suspend pensions and salaries for civil servants to spend on the defense sector, if it does not receive funding from Western partners.
Earlier, on December 27, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the transfer of a $250 million military aid package. This is the “last” package for Ukraine in 2023. This aid package includes ammunition for the NASAMS air defense system, HIMARS multiple launch rocket system, 155 and 105 mm artillery shells, Javelin, TOW and AT-4 anti-tank missile systems, as well as more than 15 million rounds of ammunition and small arms.
