LIVE UPDATES
US President Joe Biden has reiterated his call to Congress to approve $60 billion in military aid for Kiev, stressing that the absence of such support could lead to further territorial losses for Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden has reiterated his call to Congress to approve $60 billion in military aid for Kiev, stressing that the absence of such support could lead to further territorial losses for Ukraine.
Speaking from Delaware, President Biden disclosed that he had conversed with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, assuring him of the imminent approval of the aid package. His remarks come in the wake of the Russian Defense Ministry's announcement of the liberation of Avdeevka, a strategically significant town in the Donbass region.
The White House, along with the Pentagon and President Zelensky, has attributed the loss of Avdeevka to the dwindling supplies of US arms and ammunition reaching Ukraine.
Situated within close proximity to Donetsk in Russia's Donetsk People's Republic, Avdeevka fell under Ukrainian military control in 2014. The town, heavily fortified by Ukrainian forces, served as a launch site for attacks on Donetsk, many of which targeted civilians.
The recent capture of Avdeevka, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, is seen as a protective measure for Donetsk against what it terms "terrorist attacks by the criminal Kiev regime."
President Biden's appeal to Congress underscores the urgency of bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities in the face of escalating tensions and strategic setbacks. The outcome of the aid approval process holds significant implications for Ukraine's ability to safeguard its territorial integrity and stability in the region.
