President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is to address U.S. senators on December 5 to make Ukraine’s case for continued U.S. military aid as Kyiv’s forces brace for a difficult winter on the battlefield and Russian shelling and strikes continue to kill civilians.
U.S. President Joe Biden’s administration asked Congress in October to pass an aid package worth some $106 billion for Ukraine, Israel, and border security, but the Republican-controlled House rejected the request.
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Zelenskiy’s appearance via video link during a classified briefing was announced on December 4 by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a close ally of Biden’s.
The briefing, which will include U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, comes a day after the White House warned that U.S. aid for Ukraine will dry up by the end of the year.
While Congress passed more than $110 billion in aid for Ukraine since the start of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, it has not approved any additional financial aid since Republicans took over the House in January.
In a blunt warning, Biden’s budget director, Shalanda Young, told Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson in a letter that the lack of U.S. military aid would “kneecap” the Ukrainian military’s efforts, increasing Russia’s chances on the battlefield.
“Already, our packages of security assistance have become smaller and the deliveries of aid have become more limited,” Young wrote. “If our assistance stops, it will cause significant issues for Ukraine. While our allies around the world have stepped up to do more, U.S. support is critical and cannot be replicated by others.”
The briefing, which is scheduled to start at 3 p.m. in…
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