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Ukrainian
President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's chief of staff said on Tuesday that the
suspension of US aid to Kiev under discussion in Congress would create a
"high risk" of Ukraine losing the war with Russia.
Andriy Yermak's
remarks were somewhat blunt yet from a senior Kiev official as uncertainty
looms over the future of key US and EU aid packages after Ukraine's war with
Russia broke out.
If aid is
delayed, "there is a greater risk that we could be in the position we are
in now," he told the audience in English.
"And of
course, that makes it impossible to continuously release this extremely high
probability and risk losing this war."
On Monday,
White House officials said the United States was running out of time and money
to help Ukraine fight Russia.
President Joe
Biden's administration asked Congress in October for about $106 billion to fund
ambitious projects for Ukraine, Israel and US border security, but Republicans,
who control the House with a slim majority, rejected the package. Rejected.
US officials
hope they can still get approval for a key package.
Yermak cited
the risk of not having more direct budget support as a problem. Ukraine's
government expects a budget deficit of $43 billion next year.
"Certainly,
without that direct budgetary support, it would be difficult to hold the same
positions and ... for people to really survive ... during a situation where the
war continues," he said.
"That's
why it's so important that this support is voted on and voted on as soon as
possible."
Yermak was making
his second visit to Washington in a few weeks. He said he planned to press
lawmakers and administration officials on the importance that Congress pass a
new aid package.
Ukraine mounted
a major counteroffensive that year, but failed to break through the Russian
defenses. Russia is now on the offensive in the East.
Yermak said
Kiev has a plan for next year.
"We really
have a plan and that plan includes ... military operations ... diplomatic
activities and of course our cooperation in communications and information,"
he said.
(Source: Reuters)
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