The Kremlin has stated that the new US package of military aid to Ukraine will not change the situation on the frontlines, where Russia has the upper hand.

“The Russian armed forces are improving their positions at the front … The money allocated and the weapons that will be supplied will not change this dynamic,” Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

He added, “They will lead to new victims on the Ukrainian side. More Ukrainians will die, Ukraine will suffer greater losses.”

In the Ukraine bill, of the $60.7bn, a total of about $23bn would be used by the US to replenish its military stockpiles, opening the door to future US military transfers to Ukraine.

Another $14bn would go to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, in which the Pentagon buys advanced new weapon systems for the Ukrainian military directly from US defence contractors.

According to Peskov, the American defence industry will be the real beneficiary of the package.

“We also recognise that most of this money will remain in the United States. The United States will become richer and will receive additional dividends by providing assistance to Ukraine. For (President Vladimir) Putin, this was expected.”
Dmitry Peskov

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Sunday urged Washington to quickly turn the bill into law and proceed with the actual transfer of weapons, saying long-range arms and air defence systems were top priorities.

“I think this support will really strengthen the armed forces of Ukraine and we will have a chance for victory,” Zelenskiy said.

Europe Cannot Relax Its Support For Ukraine

Meeting in Luxembourg, Foreign and Defence Ministers from the EU said that the US House of Representatives vote to approve a $60bn Ukraine package should not lead to any complacency on their part.

Describing the long-delayed approval of the aid package by the US House of Representatives, Lithuanian Foreign Minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis told reporters, “We dodged a historic bullet, but unfortunately many more bullets are on the way.”

“Therefore we can be joyous today but we have to be prepared for the battle that is coming tomorrow. There can be no calming down. We have to continue to speak about how we are going to assist Ukraine further.”
Gabrielius Landsbergis

Baiba Braže, Latvia’s new Foreign Minister, struck a similar note, warning against slackening the EU’s efforts to aid Ukraine in its defence against the continuing Russian attack.

“As Europeans we have to step up; we can’t relax, even though the US has passed the aid package,” she said.

Separately, Norway’s Prime Minister, Jonas Gahr Støre, told a news agency that his country will provide Ukraine with new contributions, including funding, to improve the country’s air defence.

Støre said that there are “significant sums” to be directed to Ukraine’s air defence but did not specify the exact amount or what portion of Oslo’s contribution would be financial or in the form of military equipment.

“We will return to that when we present the revised budget,” Støre was quoted as saying.

He noted, “It is expensive, but preserving peace and freedom costs money. Those who pay the highest price are Ukraine and Ukrainians.”

He added, “It takes time to produce air defences. This means that you have to send air defences from your own warehouses.”