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Zelensky presses US lawmakers for more aid, or Ukraine would cede lands — WaPo

On Tuesday, Vladimir Zelensky failed to secure a breakthrough in talks with Congress which remains deadlocked over US President Joe Biden’s request for supplemental funding for Kiev
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky  USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky
© USA TODAY NETWORK via Reuters Connect

WASHINGTON, December 13. /TASS/. Visiting Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky told US senators in Washington that his military would cede ground to Russia without more aid, The Washington Post (WaPo) reported.

According to the newspaper, although Zelensky assured Congress that Ukraine will never give up its fight, without additional military assistance, he said, the Ukrainian military would inevitably cede "ground to its determined and well-armed adversary."

On Tuesday, Zelensky failed to secure a breakthrough in talks with Congress which remains deadlocked over US President Joe Biden’s request for supplemental funding for Kiev.

Speaking at a joint press conference in the White House following talks with Zelensky in Washington, Biden said that his administration was rapidly coming to an end in its ability to help Ukraine unless Congress signs off on additional funds for Ukraine.

Earlier this month, a bill to allocate $106 bln in additional budget funds, including $61 bln in aid for Ukraine, failed to pass a procedural vote in the US Senate. The senators voted whether to begin formal debate on the bill, which would have commenced had the initiative been supported by 60 lawmakers, but in the event only 49 voted in favor, with 51 voting against.

The future of that request or alternative bills remains unclear as several House and Senate Republicans have recently spoken out against continued financial aid to Kiev.