U.S. Congress rejects new aid for Ukraine, says war must end
The U.S. Congress will not approve additional aid for Ukraine, Newsmax reported on Thursday, February 20, citing statements from House Speaker Mike Johnson.
The official noted that interest in financial support has notably diminished, and the allocation of further funds should be halted. "There is no appetite for this; it has dragged on too long," Johnson said, stressing that the war in Ukraine should end as soon as possible. He added that even the U.S.'s European allies recognize this necessity, DW reported.
Decisions regarding the U.S. federal budget are primarily made by the House of Representatives, where the Republican Party, of which President Donald Trump is a member, holds the majority.
On the same day, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance stated that Ukraine cannot defeat Russia, citing the Russian army’s numerical advantage and the depletion of Europe’s weapons stockpiles. "Neither Europe, nor former President Joe Biden’s administration, nor Ukraine ever had a way to victory. That was true three years ago, two years ago, last year, and remains true today," Vance said.
The remarks on Ukraine follow recent comments by former President Donald Trump, who called Volodymyr Zelensky a "dictator" and urged for presidential elections to be held in Ukraine. The international community quickly responded. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres rejected these claims, emphasizing the legitimacy of the Ukrainian leader, who was elected through a democratic process.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz described Trump’s statements as "false and dangerous." Germany’s Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock pointed out that "the true citizens living under dictatorship are those in Russia and Belarus." Likewise, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck responded on X, calling the U.S. president’s comments "shocking" and "a dangerous distortion of reality."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
