The capture of Avdiivka, a key Ukrainian city, by Russian forces has sparked strong reactions from both Democrats and Republicans. They are now debating whether the $60 billion in military aid that has been held up in Congress could help Ukraine defend against Russian attacks and turn the tide in the conflict.

According to a statement from the White House, President Joe Biden discussed the loss of the stronghold of Avdiivka in the southeastern Donetsk region and its connection to the delayed U.S. aid for Ukraine in a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Saturday.

The Ukrainian retreat from Avdiivka occurred nearly two years after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This decision was made due to a shortage of ammunition caused by a lack of action from Congress. As a result, Russia was able to make significant advances, marking their first notable progress in several months.

The defense ministry of Russia reported that their soldiers had made progress of 8.6 km (5.3 miles) in the designated area of the front line, which spans 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). It was also stated that Russian troops were continuing to move forward following a fierce battle in the city, resulting in its near destruction and a significant decrease in population.

Before Avdiivka fell, The Associated Press conducted interviews with more than twelve Ukrainian commanders, including leaders of artillery units, in the areas of the war with the most intense fighting.

According to sources, the ongoing issue of shortages in Ukrainian forces has worsened since the full-scale invasion. It was reported that the dwindling supply of long-range artillery from Western sources has hindered Ukrainian forces from targeting important and heavily equipped areas deep within Russian territory.

Although a majority of Democrats and nearly half of Republicans are in favor of the package, U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson refuses to be pressured into passing the $95.3 billion foreign aid package, which was recently passed by a bipartisan Senate and includes $60 billion in aid for Ukraine.

According to the AP, Johnson has expressed his personal backing for providing assistance to Ukraine. However, as the leader of a far-right majority, he is more in line with former President Donald Trump’s isolationist beliefs and is increasingly adopting a hands-off stance towards Russian President Vladimir Putin’s aggressive actions.

During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat, expressed his support for providing aid by stating, “Let’s just get it over there.”

Bennet stated that the Ukrainians recently experienced their first loss since last May. This was due in part to being significantly outnumbered by the Russians. We have the ability to assist them in addressing this issue and we should do so.

Senator J.D. Vance, a Republican and supporter of Trump, stated that the issue in Ukraine is the lack of a definite conclusion and that the U.S. does not produce sufficient weaponry for conflicts in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and potentially East Asia.

Vance argued that even if the package is approved, it will not drastically alter the circumstances on the battlefield. He noted that the manufacturing capabilities of America have limitations.

“Is it possible for us to send the same amount of weapons that we have been sending for the past 18 months?” he inquired. “Unfortunately, that is not feasible. Regardless of the number of approvals from the U.S. Congress, we are restricted in that aspect.”

During an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union Sunday, former Republican Representative Liz Cheney stated that Congress must approve the bipartisan bill that is urgently needed by Ukrainians. She also noted that House Speaker Johnson has the authority to facilitate this process.

“If he so desired, he could make an announcement today to reconvene the House of Representatives and bring the Senate-passed bill to the House floor for a vote tomorrow. This would allow for the bill to reach Joe Biden’s desk by tomorrow evening and for aid to be delivered to Ukraine.”

During a worldwide security summit in Munich over the weekend, Zelenskyy called on allies to address the lack of weapons and expressed optimism that the U.S. Congress would make a beneficial choice in granting a postponed substantial aid package for Ukraine.

He commended his soldiers for wearing down the Russian forces in Avdiivka and implied that the retreat was due in part to a shortage of weapons.

On Sunday, Ukrainian officials announced that they had initiated an inquiry into reports of Russian troops shooting and killing six defenseless Ukrainian soldiers in the captured town of Avdiivka, as well as two at a nearby village in the same area.

According to the Donetsk prosecutor’s office, a video clip captured by a drone revealed evidence of a Russian soldier executing two Ukrainian soldiers at close proximity in the village of Vesele.

The office stated that the occupier used automatic weapons to kill the prisoners, indicating that the incident occurred at an unknown time.

At this time, Reuters was unable to confirm the authenticity of the video or any additional information provided by Ukrainian prosecutors and military officials.

According to the Ukrainian air force, 12 Shahed drones, a Su-34 fighter-bomber, and a Kh-59 missile were all destroyed on Sunday morning. The plane was taken down in eastern Ukraine, while the drones and missile were brought down in various regions, including Chernihiv, Sumy, Poltava, Kirovohrad, and Dnipro.

This report includes data from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters.

Source: voanews.com