Zelenskyy Praises Congress for Approval of US Military Aid

Facts

• Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday welcomed the approval of $61B in military aid for his country following a rare session of the US House of Representatives over the weekend.¹
• In an interview with NBC's Meet the Press, Zelenskyy said he was grateful to Congress, both parties, and House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) for approving the bill. He said it was a 'decision that keeps history on the right track,' and that it 'will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger.'²
• Zelenskyy further stated that approving the aid sends a powerful message to Moscow that Ukraine would not become 'a second Afghanistan,' and that it will give Ukraine's Armed Forces 'a chance for victory.'²
• Russia, meanwhile, reacted angrily to the bill's passing. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, said it would make the US 'far richer, but will ruin Ukraine further, making more Ukrainians killed because of the Kyiv regime.'³
• Peskov further commented on the House's approval of a bill that will allow the US to seize Russian assets, stating that this 'will cause irreparable damage' to the image of the US as investors would be forced to reconsider whether the country adheres to the principles of the immutability of private and state property.³
• The new bills — which include military aid for Israel, Taiwan, and the possible banning of TikTok in the US — are expected to be before the Democrat-led Senate potentially on Tuesday. If approved, they will go to Pres. Joe Biden for final signature.¹

Sources: ¹Associated Press, ²Al Jazeera and ³TASS.

Narratives

• Pro-establishment narrative, as provided by Associated Press. This is welcome news for Ukraine and its war effort. This aid has been languishing for months and Ukraine has had to endure with insufficient weaponry and ammunition. While it will still take some time for the new weapons to arrive, when they get to the war theater, they will definitely reverse Ukraine's fortunes on the battlefield.
• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by TASS. Sadly, from Russia's point of view, America's passing of more military aid to Ukraine was all but inevitable. All this bill does is enrich America's arms manufacturers while causing further destruction and loss of life in Ukraine. The seizing of Russian assets will only serve to damage US interests in global investor relations.

Predictions