In Ukraine, residents cautiously welcome the announcement of $61 billion released by the United States

The American president promulgated a vast assistance plan for Ukraine on Wednesday.

The United States will send military equipment to Ukraine in the “next hours” announces Joe Biden, Wednesday April 24. The American president has just promulgated the military and economic assistance law, passed by Congress after months of political negotiations. A gigantic envelope of 61 billion dollars is released for the country which is facing the Russian invasion. This is a relief for many Ukrainians.

In the suburbs of kyiv, the residents of Borodyanka, Andrei and Olha, are delighted at the idea of ​​this American aid: “It’s really necessary. For us, it’s a real question of survival, assures Andrei. Without this help, we could disappear. So that gives us some hope. It’s true that we’ve wasted time these last six months… But better late than never!”

“Make the war end more quickly”

The couple adds that this aid will perhaps not ensure a quick victory, but that it will at least make it possible to hold on, provided that Europe also continues to support Ukraine. Others are getting impatient, like Vera: “We should have done this sooner. It’s not too late, of course, but we could have made the war end more quickly.” Her husband Serhei shows on his cell phone the photo of his two sons, 30 and 35 years old, together on the front. This is his wallpaper. Vera adds that her husband sometimes got annoyed while watching the news.

Not everyone understands precisely what this $61 billion will be used for. A young soldier worries: “I hope that the weapons and ammunition will reach the battalions that need them…” This is also what these soldiers say, on leave after serving near Avdiivka: “Our politicians don’t always have a good reputation. But the survival of our country depends on this aid, so I hope they handle all this correctly, with honesty!”

They are in the front row to see the importance of this American military assistance: “When there was a shortage of ammunition in recent months, we clearly saw that we were going backwards! We lost territory. So with more weapons, it can allow us, not only to defend ourselves, but also to try again small steps forward.” The hope, with this American support, of regaining at least a psychological advantage on the front. On condition, say these soldiers, that the aid continues in the long term.