What's happened
The Senate and House of Representatives have approved a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine, providing crucial support to bolster the country's military capabilities against invading Russian forces. President Biden is expected to sign the package, which includes artillery ammunition, long-range missiles, and air defenses to protect key infrastructure. The aid comes after months of political wrangling and delays, with Ukraine facing a severe imbalance in artillery and airpower compared to Russia.
Why it matters
The approval of the aid package is crucial for Ukraine's ability to defend itself against Russian forces, providing much-needed weapons and ammunition. The delay in passing the bill has left Ukraine at a significant disadvantage, with the country facing a severe shortage of artillery shells and air-defense interceptors. The aid package is expected to make an immediate difference in Ukraine's ability to combat Russian aggression and protect its territory and citizens.
What the papers say
The New York Times highlights the urgency of the aid package for Ukraine, emphasizing the critical need for artillery ammunition and long-range missiles. Sky News discusses the impact of the aid package on Ukraine's military capabilities, noting the significant advantage Russia currently holds. Business Insider UK and The Independent both report on the warnings from top American military commander Gen. Christopher Cavoli about the urgent need for more ammunition for Ukraine to prevent being outgunned by Russia.
How we got here
The aid package for Ukraine comes after months of political gridlock and delays in the House of Representatives, where Republicans had blocked the bill for lethal aid to Ukraine. The delay in providing essential weapons and ammunition has left Ukraine at a severe disadvantage in its ongoing conflict with Russia, with the country facing a critical shortage of artillery shells and air-defense interceptors. The aid package aims to address these urgent needs and bolster Ukraine's military capabilities against Russian aggression.
Common question
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which borders it to the east and northeast.
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Christopher G. Cavoli is a United States Army general who currently serves as the commanding general of United States Army Europe and Africa.
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Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. Covering an area of 17,125,200 square kilometres, it is the largest country in the world by area, spanning more than one-eighth of the Earth's in
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Ukrainians, historically also called Ruthenians, are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine, which is by total population the seventh-largest nation in Europe and the second-largest among the East Slavs after the Russians.
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Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy is a Ukrainian politician, actor and comedian who is the 6th and current president of Ukraine, serving since May 2019.