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WASHINGTON DC, KOMPAS.com – The US House of Representatives (DPR) on Friday (23/12/2022) definitively approved an aid package worth $45 billion (about IDR 701.6 trillion) for Ukraine.
This happened after President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the United States on Wednesday (12/21/2022).
The assistance measures approved by the DPR will then be submitted AS President Joe Biden to be signed into law.
Read also: Putin calls on Russian defense industry to increase role in war in Ukraine
In a tweet thanking Congress and the leaders of both parties, Zelensky said it was important for Americans to stand by Ukrainians in this fight.
The new military and economic aid will go beyond the roughly $50 billion in aid to Ukraine this year, as well as Western sanctions against Russia that now include caps on the price of Russian oil.
Russia responded to the restrictions on Friday by threatening to cut oil production by 5-7% in early 2023 by halting sales to countries that support the measure.
Zelensky, among others, returned from the United States with a US promise to receive batteries of Patriot surface-to-air missiles to bolster Ukraine’s air defenses.
Zelensky has long sought Patriot missiles to counter three months of Russian rocket and drone strikes on civilian infrastructure, including Ukraine’s power grid.
Read also: Russian politicians are suing Putin for calling the Ukrainian conflict a war
As quoted by Reuters, Millions of people in Ukraine have been left without electricity, heat and water as temperatures drop below freezing.
However, US officials said the single battery of patriots US President Joe Biden promised Zelensky during their meeting at the White House on Wednesday would not change the course of the war.
Notice to citizens
Meanwhile, in his evening speech video, Zelensky warned Ukrainians that Russia could launch more attacks during Christmas 2022.
He urged them to heed the air warning, help each other and take care of each other.
“As the holiday season approaches, Russian terrorists may escalate their activities again. They don’t value Christian values or any value for that matter,” Zelensky said.
Turning to Russian, Zelensky warned that Russian citizens must clearly understand that terror never goes without an answer.
Read also: Summary of Day 303 of Russia’s Attack on Ukraine: Putin Ready to End War | Focus Battle in Bakhmut
He said he had met with his commander-in-chief to review the military situation and that his government was preparing various scenarios of action by a terrorist state.
Zelensky said Ukraine would respond to any attack.
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