President Zelensky said that the $61 billion aid package demonstrates America’s steadfast support for Ukraine and that the country will not become “the second Afghanistan”.

After months of delay, the US House of Representatives voted on April 20 to pass a $95 billion foreign aid bill, including nearly $61 billion for Ukraine. The Senate began considering the bill on April 23 and is almost certain to pass it, paving the way for President Joe Biden to sign it into law.

“This aid package will strengthen Ukraine and send a strong signal to the Kremlin that this will not be another Afghanistan. America will stand shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine, defending the Ukrainian people and democracy worldwide,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 21.

In August 2021, the US withdrew all its forces from Afghanistan, ending a nearly 20-year military campaign in the country. Without US support, Afghan forces crumbled and were unable to resist the Taliban, leading to the group seizing control of the country.

President Zelensky said some of his forces are also “exhausted”. “We need to reform them. But for the new regiments, they need equipment,” he said.

Tổng thống Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky tại Vilnius, Litva, hôm 11/4. Ảnh: AFP

The United States has been the primary source of military aid to Ukraine since the country’s conflict with Russia erupted in February 2022. However, the US Congress has been unable to approve a large-scale aid package for Ukraine for over a year and a half, mainly due to obstruction from the Republican Party.

The delayed aid from the US has caused significant difficulties for the Ukrainian forces. This nearly $61 billion aid bill is something the Ukrainian government has been eagerly anticipating and has had to repeatedly persuade the US Congress to pass.

Of the $60.84 billion allocated to Ukraine, approximately $23 billion will be used by the US to supplement military reserves, enabling continued military transfers to Ukraine in the future. $14 billion will be allocated to the Security Assistance Initiative for Ukraine, with the Pentagon purchasing advanced new weapon systems directly from US contractors for the Ukrainian military.

$11 billion will be used to support current US military operations in the region, enhancing the capabilities of the Ukrainian military and strengthening intelligence cooperation between Kiev and Washington. Approximately $8 billion will go towards non-military assistance, helping the Ukrainian government maintain essential operations such as paying salaries and pensions.