Ukrainians Unite: The Urgent Need for Additional Funding in US Spending Bill

The United States may have averted a government shutdown on Saturday, but the absence of additional funding for Ukraine in the spending bill has left residents in the war-torn nation anxious. Despite President Joe Biden's approval of the agreement made by lawmakers, he recognized the absence of new funding for Ukraine and pledged that Washington "will not abandon" Kyiv. Additionally, a bipartisan group of Senate leaders has committed to voting on additional assistance for Ukraine.

These events unfolding in Congress over the past week do not hold much significance for some residents in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, as they continue to grapple with the ongoing war. Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Kostiak expressed his views to CNN on Sunday, on the occasion of Defenders Day, a national holiday dedicated to honoring the country's veterans and fallen soldiers. He referred to these political conflicts as "internal American games," emphasizing how Ukraine has become a hostage to this internal war.

"Ukraine is an integral part of America's significant strategic interests," he remarked. "I also believe that the internal political turmoil will have minimal impact on the aid rendered to Ukraine. Though there might be some minor mistakes, they will be inconsequential."

Kostiak acknowledged that the dispute regarding the funding for Ukraine stems from the political landscape leading up to the 2024 US presidential election. However, he remains optimistic about the unlikely scenario of Washington discontinuing assistance to Ukraine.

"The US budget has been suspended 20 times in history, and it has never resulted in any significant consequences," remarked the serviceman. "Therefore, I do not perceive this as a major issue for Ukraine."

Natalia and Serhii Krasnoshchoks expressed optimism about US support for Ukraine.

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Natalia and Serhii Krasnoshchoks, an English teacher and an entrepreneur, shared a positive outlook. "Although we are aware of the news, we believe that Ukraine will receive assistance regardless," they expressed. "We sincerely hope for it and appreciate any form of support. The greater the assistance, the more grateful we will be."

Mykhailo Chendei, a store administrator, stated to CNN that he considered the complete withdrawal of aid by the US to be "impossible." However, he also added that it has now become an internal issue for Americans. Nevertheless, in the Ukrainian capital, some individuals expressed less confidence, particularly due to the diminishing American support after almost 20 months of war.

According to a CNN poll conducted in August, a majority of Americans are against Congress approving further funding to assist Ukraine in its battle, while public opinion is divided on whether the US has already provided sufficient support. This indicates a change in public sentiment, as a previous poll conducted during the initial stages of the invasion in February 2022 revealed that 62% of respondents believed that the US should have taken more action.

Partisan divisions have widened since that poll, too, with most Democrats and Republicans now on opposing sides of questions on the US role in Ukraine.

Mykhailo Chendei said the US budget was an internal American issue.

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Difficult consequences for everyone

According to Ukraines Foreign Ministry, the defense industry in the US is currently allocated approximately $1.6 billion in the budget, along with $1.23 billion for direct budget support. Additionally, funds are also dedicated to humanitarian and energy projects.

In a recent Facebook post, spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko from the ministry stated that Kyiv is collaborating with its Washington partners to secure additional funds in the upcoming 45-day budget Congress session. These funds will aid Ukraine in its efforts to resist Russian aggression. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who visited the Capitol last month to request further assistance, has previously cautioned about the dire repercussions of reduced US support on the war effort.

Tetiana Ostapchuk said Ukraine alone cannot defeat Russia.

Tetiana Ostapchuk, a logistician in Kyiv, expressed her lack of knowledge about the stopgap spending bill on Sunday. However, she emphasized the crucial need for support from other countries, emphasizing the impossibility of achieving their goals independently.

"The significance of aid cannot be underestimated. If, by chance, America were to withdraw its support, we would all rally together to fiercely defend our freedom, even if it means fighting till the very end," she emphasized. "However, it would undeniably be more manageable with the much-needed assistance."

Yulia Mueller warned that Russian aggression could extend beyond Ukraine.

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Yulia Mueller, the chief accountant, also delivered a somber forecast. She expressed concern that the assistance could be halted due to a significant portion of Americans being dissatisfied with their funds being allocated to Ukraine, a remote country that poses no direct threat to the United States.

However, Yulia emphasized that individuals with sound judgment who witness the ongoing atrocities and the obliteration of entire cities here comprehend the potential for this violence to extend to other nations as well.

"If America stops helping us, there will be very difficult consequences for everyone."