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Ukraine may lose more cities after Avdeyevka while US delays aid — Biden

US president told it would be "absurd" and "unethical" to refuse to support Kiev when the Ukrainian military is running out of ammunition

US President Joe Biden Valery Sharifulin/TASS

US President Joe Biden

© Valery Sharifulin/TASS

WASHINGTON, February 18. /TASS/. US President Joe Biden has admitted that Ukrainian troops may lose other cities after abandoning Avdeyevka unless the US Congress approves additional aid to Kiev.

Reporters asked the American leader if he was sure that Ukraine would not lose other cities as well. "I’m not. I’m not. No one can be," Biden replied. "There is so much at stake," he added.

According to the US president, it would be "absurd" and "unethical" to refuse to support Kiev when the Ukrainian military is running out of ammunition. "I'm going to fight to get them the ammunition they need," he pointed out. Biden also said that he had promised Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky to seek additional funding.

Earlier, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu reported to President Vladimir Putin on the complete liberation of Avdeyevka by the battlegroup Center. This town near Donetsk was a major fortified stronghold of the Ukrainian military. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, as a result of the operation an area of 31.75 square kilometers was liberated. The enemy’s losses in the battle for Avdeyevka during the past 24 hours exceeded 1,500. The liberation of the town has pushed the front line away from Donetsk.

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