In a call with European Council President, Charles Michel on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the EU’s special 5 billion euro ($5.48bn) assistance fund within the European Peace Facility (EPF).
Zelenskyy revealed in a post on X that he spoke to Michel about the next steps towards Ukraine’s membership in the EU.
“We also identified potential ways to increase the supply of artillery ammunition to Ukraine. We discussed the importance of extending autonomous trade benefits for Ukraine for another year,” Zelenskyy stated.
He said, “I emphasized that maintaining the trade liberalization regime with the EU is critical to supporting Ukraine’s economy during the war.”
Additionally, Zelenskyy disclosed on X that Russia launched 130 missiles, more than 320 Shahed attack drones and almost 900 guided bombs in attacks on Ukraine this month.
“Ukraine has demonstrated that it is capable of successfully shooting down Russian terrorist missiles and drones, as well as destroying Russian military aircraft. These actions save thousands of lives and allow Ukraine’s economy to function.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Despite the success of shooting down the missiles, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine still needs more air defence systems.
“Patriots and other systems must do what they were designed for: protect lives, not collect dust in storage,” he stressed.
“And I want to thank everyone in the world who understands this and helps us save lives. Russian terror must lose,” he added.
U.S Reasserts Support For Ukraine
Also on Tuesday, Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin promised that the United States would not let Ukraine fail.
Austin made these remarks as he opened the 20th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in Ramstein, Germany.
“Ukraine won’t back down, and neither will the United States,” Austin stated, while seated next to Ukrainian Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov.
“So, our message today is clear:The United States will not let Ukraine fail. This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and the free world will not let Ukraine fail.”
Lloyd Austin
“We remain determined to provide Ukraine with the resources it needs to resist the Kremlin’s aggression,” Austin added, pointing out recent initiatives and defense aid packages from countries like Czechia, Sweden, Germany, Denmark and France.
Moreover, Austin pointed to statistics demonstrating Russia’s losses.
He stated that at least 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since February 2022 and Russia “has squandered up to $211 billion to equip, deploy, maintain, and sustain its imperial aggression against Ukraine.”
Austin also claimed that the war would cost Russia $1.3 trillion “in previously anticipated economic growth through 2026.”
“Ukraine has sunk, destroyed, or damaged some 20 medium-to-large Russian Navy vessels and Ukraine continues to down Russian warplanes,” he noted.
Nonetheless, Austin voiced, “Ukraine’s survival is on the line and all of our security is on the line.”
“So we will continue to stand together to resist Putin’s campaign of conquest, and we will continue to keep the faith with the people of Ukraine,” he pledged.
Meanwhile, Ukraine admitted that it is shocked that the U.S has still not passed a $60 bn wartime aid package, as it struggles with shortages on the battlefield.
“What really matters and what does shock us is that the decision has not been adopted yet,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba said in an online briefing.
“We are approaching the end of March and deliberations continue, deliberations on the issue of vital interest, strategic interest of the U.S in Europe,” Kuleba said.
U.S House of Representatives, Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to call a vote on the bill, leaving the White House to scramble to find ways to send assistance to Kyiv.
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