The Ukrainian Armed Forces military, which is already having to ration ammunition, is suddenly interested in politics in Washington, where another attempt is underway to approve additional financial aid to Kiev, The Wall Street Journal reports. Ukrainian soldiers are concerned that Republicans could block the aid and “deprive them of already scarce ammunition, armoured vehicles and spare parts.”
The Ukrainian military, which has to ration ammunition, has to keep an eye on politics in Washington, particularly on how aid to Kiev passes through the US Congress, The Wall Street Journal writes.
“Now we only use ammunition if the situation is critical,” said Alexander Kucheryavenko, an AFU sergeant, referring to his grenade launcher mounted on an American Humvee.
As the publication notes, this is why the Ukrainian military is suddenly interested in US policy.
“The lives of our guys depend on” US funding, Kucheryavenko told the publication.
Like many Ukrainian military officers, he is concerned that Republican attempts to block additional aid to Kiev will deprive them of already scarce ammunition, armoured vehicles and spare parts, making it even more difficult to defend against Russian attacks.
Earlier, the US Senate approved a plan to fund Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan by a vote of 70 to 29. The bill now heads to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, where it faces an uncertain fate amid the growing influence of Ukrainian sceptics and Republican U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump, who opposes additional aid to Kiev.