The White House's strategy to avoid escalation by setting limits on military supplies for Ukraine does not work, as Russian President Vladimir Putin would "escalate today if he could," Kurt Volker, a former U.S. special representative for Ukraine, told the Kyiv Independent during a press conference on Feb. 23.
President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke with Fox News reporter Bret Baier near the front lines in Kharkiv Oblast, where artillery fire could be heard nearby.
Ukraine could face a "catastrophic shortage of ammunition and air defenses" by late March if Congress does not pass a bill that contains $61 billion in crucial funding for Kyiv, ABC News reported on Feb. 22, citing two anonymous U.S. officials.
The White House has continued to criticize House Republicans over their refusal to pass legislation providing aid for Ukraine, which escalated after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson convened an early recess on Feb. 15 without bringing the aid, passed the week before by the Senate, to a vote.
Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are moving closer to an agreement to disburse $900 million to Kyiv from its $15.6 billion loan as U.S. aid remains stalled, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 21, citing unnamed officials familiar with the talks.
"So if you've seen with most of our PDAs (Presidential Drawdown Authority), we've been able to surge systems and capabilities pretty rapidly, within a few days," Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said in response to a question on how quickly the aid can be delivered.
The High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) released a report on Feb. 20 detailing the situation regarding Ukrainian refugees and appealed for $993 million to fund its support for those displaced by the full-scale war.
Russia forces are "taking advantage" of Western allies' delays in providing Ukraine with additional military aid, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on Feb. 19.
U.S. officials told NBC that the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is prepared to send Ukraine the longer-range ATACMS variation in one of its first aid packages if Congress approves the funding.
The Washington Post spoke to a number of European officials who said that they were both plotting ways to more effectively communicate with the MAGA wing of the Republican party and making preparations in case former U.S. President Donald Trump is reelected and delivers on his proposed retreat from NATO.
"This morning, Ukraine’s military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months," the White House statement said.
"Held a meeting with the U.S. Senate delegation in Munich. We spoke about Ukraine's main defense needs, namely artillery systems and shells, long-range weapons, electronic warfare systems, and air defense support," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram.
The new package contained 66 vehicles, 250 drones, nine 3D laser ground scanning devices, and a DNA laboratory, the Interior Ministry said.
It is estimated that Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has cost Russia up to $211 billion in equipping, deploying, and maintaining its troops in Ukraine, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters on Feb. 16.
A group of bipartisan lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives unveiled on Feb. 16 a combined $66 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, after the Republican-controlled House withheld a vote on a previous version of a funding package.
"House members blocking critical aid to Ukraine can revel in another high-five for (Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin who just murdered his most vocal and visible critic," said John Fetterman, a Democratic Senator from Pennsylvania, on social media.
President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his hope that U.S. military support for Ukraine "will not falter" as questions linger about the passage of military aid through Congress.
"Supporting our bipartisan national security bill is standing up to Putin. Opposing it is playing into his hands," U.S. President Joe Biden wrote on Feb. 15.
"Avdiivka is at risk of falling into Russian control. In very large part, this is happening because Ukrainian forces on the ground are running out of artillery ammunition," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said during a press briefing.
"Do it this way. Loan them the money. If they can make it, they pay us back. If they can't make it, they don’t have to pay us back," Donald Trump said on Feb. 14.
The Senate passed the $95 billion funding request, including assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, earlier this week. Johnson said, however, he will not put the bill to the vote, arguing that the country should first address the growing number of migrants at the southern border.
Ukrainian troops began running out of ammunition as U.S. assistance has largely run out, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Feb. 14, urging Congress to pass additional funding.
Democratic sources told NBC that U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has backed himself into a corner after a series of inconsistent positions on aid for Ukraine and legislative changes to domestic border issues.
Key developments on Feb. 13 * Syrskyi: Ukraine shifts to defense to drain Russian troops * US Senate passes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine, but bill faces uphill battle in Republican-led House * Military: Ukraine reinforcing Avdiivka as Russia continues its offensive * Military intelligence: Russia reportedly buying Starlink in 'Arab countries' * Dnipro
"For God’s sake, it’s dumb, it’s shameful, it’s dangerous, it’s un-American," U.S. President Joe Biden said.
"There is no way in hell" that Russia could lose the war, Elon Musk told the other participants of the online conversation.
The bill, which received 70 votes in favor and 29 against, will now go to the Republican-led House, where it still faces significant obstacles.
"House Republicans were crystal clear from the very beginning of discussions that any so-called national security supplemental legislation must recognize that national security begins at our own border," U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson wrote on Twitter.
The Republican holdup on supporting new aid packages is "close to criminal neglect," U.S. President Joe Biden said as he met with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in the White House.
Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives arrived in Ukraine on Feb. 9 to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and assure Kyiv of continued support for the country as further military aid remains tied up in Congress.
Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder hinted on Feb. 9 that air defense missiles and other capabilities are still flowing to Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).
"We came here, obviously, to show unity, to show our commitment and hoping that the Americans would hear us," said Icelandic lawmaker Dilja Mist Einarsdottir. "We are leaving America a little bit sad," she added.
(Updated: )
