The White House — 

A barrage of Russian missiles targeted Ukraine’s capital, injuring at least 45 people Wednesday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged U.S. officials to approve $61 billion in new aid to help his country fight off Russia’s invasion.

According to Ukraine’s air forces, their air defense systems successfully intercepted and shot down all 10 ballistic missiles that were launched by Russia.

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, the children’s hospital and the city’s water system were damaged by falling debris from the downed missiles. Additionally, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, reported that debris also struck multiple homes.

According to Kyiv Mayor Vitaly Klitschko, the children’s hospital and the city’s water system were damaged by falling debris from the missiles that were shot down. Additionally, Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s military administration, stated that debris also caused damage to several homes.

In a statement on social media, Zelenskyy condemned Russia for its recent actions of launching missiles at night in an attempt to target civilian areas, including residential areas, kindergartens, and energy facilities during the winter. He affirmed that there will be consequences for these actions.

Zelenskyy stated that he and President Biden of the United States had reached an agreement to focus on boosting the quantity of air defense systems in Ukraine. He also acknowledged that Russia’s actions have highlighted the importance of this decision.

On Tuesday, the Biden administration declared that they will provide up to $200 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine. This includes air defense missiles and components, using funds that were previously approved.

During his visit to Washington, Zelenskyy put forth a strong argument for an additional $61 billion in aid to support Ukraine’s efforts in the ongoing war, coinciding with the decision being made by the U.S. Congress.

The leader of Ukraine denied the idea that his country would give up land to Russia after almost two years of violent conflict.

“That’s crazy, to be honest,” Zelenskyy stated.

He stated, “I am unsure whose concept this is, but I have a query for those individuals: are they willing to surrender their children to terrorists? I highly doubt it.”

Biden emphasized the importance of a Ukrainian win and appeared to resist the idea of initiating talks with Moscow.

“We must ensure that Putin’s influence in Ukraine remains unsuccessful while supporting Ukraine’s success,” he stated. “The most effective means to achieve this is by approving the supplemental funding request.”

However, the U.S. Congress, who is responsible for authorizing funds, has not been swayed yet. On Tuesday, Zelenskyy had a meeting with legislators in an effort to convince them.

The Republican party states their desire for thorough supervision of the funding, as well as a distinct explanation of the plan.

On the other hand, Biden accused the Republican party of falling into Moscow’s trap by not approving the assistance plan.

The presenter of a program controlled by the Kremlin expressed approval, stating, “Great job, Republicans. That benefits us.” He also commented, “If you’re receiving praise from Russian propagandists, it may be necessary to reconsider your actions. Those who abandon the fight for freedom will be harshly condemned by history.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry claimed that Zelenskyy was “cadging,” which is a slang term for begging for something undeserved, and accused him of being an American puppet.

However, American taxpayers are displaying indications of being tired of Ukraine, and certain members of the Republican party are questioning why approximately one-third of the allocated funds are not being used for weapons but instead for government aid.

John Jameson, an advocate for clearing mines, who recently traveled to the nation, stated that Ukraine requires every cent.

He shared with VOA on Zoom that the deminers were working despite the ongoing sound of artillery. They understand the importance of being able to resume farming, producing, and working in order to sustain their lives. It is not just about fighting the war, but also about being able to live. Waiting for the war to end is not an option.

When will this come to an end? According to analysts, it may take over a year. They also question if Ukraine’s supporters are providing enough funding, given the success of their small army against a significantly larger enemy.

According to Dalibor Rohac, a resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute, Ukraine has become a victim of its own success. It is unreasonable to expect them to do more, especially given the small amount of assistance they receive from the West. Ukraine is making impressive use of the limited resources they are given, such as a small amount of munitions and long range artillery, against a much larger adversary.

This pressing conversation arises after Biden declared on Tuesday an additional $200 million in military assistance for Ukraine, sourced from previously authorized funds.

The president has requested $110 billion from Congress to support Ukraine, Israel, and other important national security efforts.

However, Republican members of the U.S. Senate have refused, stating that significant alterations to U.S. border security are necessary.

Certain members of the Republican party are advocating for the prompt removal of individuals who have entered the country without authorization, denying them the opportunity to apply for asylum in the United States. They have also urged for significant reductions in programs implemented by the Biden administration that have permitted hundreds of thousands of migrants to enter the country legally.

The United States has already given Ukraine $111 billion to aid in its effort against the 2022 Russian invasion.

Carla Babb from VOA provided input for this article. Additional details were obtained from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.

Source: voanews.com