WASHINGTON, December 5. /TASS/. The US authorities have invited Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to address senators via video link at a classified briefing on Tuesday regarding the allocation of funds for additional aid to Kiev, US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
"We can hear directly from him precisely what's at stake in this vote," Schumer said. "I ask that all senators - all senators - attend this important briefing."
Head of the US Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young sent a letter to American legislators on Monday warning that the United States would run completely out of funds to support Ukraine by the end of the calendar year, unless Congressmen approved a package that the White House had been seeking. "We are out of money - and nearly out of time," she stated.
Previously, US President Joe Biden filed a request to the US Congress to provide additional military and other aid to Ukraine and Israel worth about $106 billion. According to the accompanying documents, published by the White House, the request for the fiscal year 2024 proposes to allocate over $61.4 billion for Ukraine and over $14.3 billion for Israel.
The Ukrainian army has been making unsuccessful offensive attempts since June 4. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said on October 30 that Kiev had lost over 90,000 men killed and wounded, as well as about 600 tanks and 1,900 armored vehicles of various classes during this time. He said Ukraine had failed to achieve any tactically significant successes.
On October 15, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Ukrainian counter-offensive had completely failed, but Kiev was still preparing new active offensive operations at some sections of the frontline.