Skip to content
Edit post

Bloomberg: US aid can give Ukraine respite but quick battlefield shift unlikely

by Martin Fornusek April 22, 2024 11:59 AM 2 min read
Ukrainian infantry soldiers of the 23rd Mechanized Brigade walk to board an armored fighting vehicle MaxxPro to head toward the frontline in the Avdiivka direction, in the Donetsk region, Ukraine on April 3, 2024, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Roman Pilipey /AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Become a member Support us just once

The U.S. aid can provide Ukraine with breathing room, but an actual shift on the battlefield remains distant, Bloomberg reported on April 22.

After months of congressional gridlock, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a $61 billion aid bill for Kyiv on April 20, sending the legislation to the Senate.

The delays have led to critical shortages in artillery rounds and air defense ammunition, putting an ever-increasing strain on Ukrainian forces.

A defense expert told Bloomberg that Washington's assistance could help Kyiv stall Russian advances and conduct an effective defense.

"The question is whether there will be aid and in what volume in 2025 and beyond — as (Russian President Vladimir) Putin's strategy is to wait it out," said Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Kyiv.

According to the outlet, logistical constraints mean that the aid will likely start affecting the situation at the front only in several weeks.

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) warned that Russian offensive operations would likely seek to use the time window before the aid arrives to exploit spring ground conditions and continuing ammunition shortages.

"The Russian military command will likely intensify offensive operations and missile and drone strikes to pursue operationally significant effects that will certainly become harder to achieve against well-provisioned Ukrainian forces," the ISW wrote.

Ukraine's military intelligence chief, Kyrylo Budanov, told the BBC that Kyiv is likely to face a particularly difficult situation in mid-May and June.

After capturing Avdiivka in February, Moscow shifted its focus toward Chasiv Yar, a mostly depopulated town in Donetsk Oblast west of occupied Bakhmut.

Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi said on April 13 that the situation on Ukraine's eastern front has "significantly deteriorated in recent days."

US House passes $61 billion in aid to Ukraine
The U.S. House of Representatives on April 20 passed a key foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies after months of political infighting and a deteriorating situation on the battlefield. Over two months have passed since the Senate passed a similar bill on foreign assistance, and D…
Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.
Freedom can be costly. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price for their independence. Support independent journalism in its darkest hour. Support us for as little as $1, and it only takes a minute.
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

Ukraine Daily
News from Ukraine in your inbox
Ukraine news
Please, enter correct email address
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.