In Ukraine on Wednesday, May 11, the belief in the ability to win the war was increased by the decision of US legislators to support the defence of Ukraine and address other problems caused by the war with 40 billion US dollars (38 billion euros). Meanwhile, there is no serious action from the international community to reach the evacuation of Ukrainian soldiers fighting a Russian siege in the Mariupol Azovstal steel works. The soldiers have published photos and videos revealing the grave situation they are in. The US government has evaluated that Vladimir Putin prepares to continue the war for a long time, Belarusian Nexta TV, Ukrainian public broadcaster Ukrinform and UK’s the BBC report.
At night to Wednesday, Ukrainian time, the lower house of U.S. Congress passed Bill H.R. 7691, which sets forth allocating a total of about USD 40 billion to respond to Russia’s aggression against Ukraine.
The piece of legislation was supported by 368 legislators and 57 voting against it. The bill will now move to the Congress Senate later to be signed by US President Joe Biden.
US Democratic Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, the author of the bill, reasoned that Ukraine needs urgent help and the United States is «morally obligated» to provide it, to help end the massive loss of life, bring Vladimir Putin and his allies to justice, and defend global democracy.
US legislators also seek to address food security concerns around the world as a result of the war, and provide important support for refugees with the funding.
In April, Biden submitted to the Congress a proposal to extend a new package of response to Russia’s aggression, which provided for the allocation of USD 33 billion (EUR 31,3 billion) in support of Ukraine. In the process of elaborating on the legislation, lawmakers proposed additions, including several billion for food aid and military equipment for Ukraine, Ukrinform reports.
Fighting and survival in Azovstal
In the destroyed south-eastern Ukrainian city of Mariupol, which has not fallen to Russian troops more than two months after the start of its siege, around a thousand Ukrainian troops continue to resist the offensive of the invaders.
See the latest photo and video material as published by the defenders of Mariupol and Nexta TV.
https://t.co/F92pZKo1pkpic.twitter.com/KscUVJ5ErB
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 10, 2022
The first and second floors of the “pic.twitter.com/d0yJFLvx3D
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 10, 2022
pic.twitter.com/S7sWDBLAxI
— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) May 11, 2022
Putin prepares for long war, US government says
Avril Haines, the Director of National Intelligence in the US government, said to the US Congress on Tuesday that Putin was still intending «to achieve goals beyond the Donbas», but that he «faces a mismatch between his ambitions and Russia’s current conventional military capabilities».
On the Donbas frontline, Russian forces remain in a stalemate, the US intelligence evaluated in the Congress.
Zelenskyy speaks of liberated territories in Kharkiv region
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has spoken about the Ukrainian Armed Forces regaining control over settlements in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region. He warned the public not to demand daily victories on the frontline.
Here is a video address by Zelenskyy with English subtitles.