Ukraine FM shows resolve after US aid delays — but warns of threats to global security

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Saturday applauded last week’s passage of a $95 billion U.S. foreign aid package, which included billions to replenish desperately needed weapon stockpiles in Ukraine. Still, he warned against looming threats to Western security and called for increased international cooperation to ensure Kyiv’s victory in its war against Russia.

“What we do need is our partners to believe firmly that Ukraine's victory is attainable,” Kuleba told CNN’s Christiane Amanpour. “And second, to have no fear towards [Russian President Vladimir Putin] because Putin is a political animal who can sense fear and when he does, he becomes more aggressive.”

Just weeks ago, Ukrainian leadership, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, predicted disaster without immediate help from Congress. With Republicans in the House stymieing the legislation for months, federal officials cautioned Ukraine could lose the war within the year.

With the recent passage of the U.S. aid bill, $61 billion of which was earmarked for Ukraine, European allies are considering their next steps. Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas has urged NATO allies to up their defense spending to the 2 percent minimum, while British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak this week announced his country would be sending Ukraine an additional £500 million in military assistance to go along with 400 vehicles and four million rounds of ammunition.

Speaking to CNN's Amanpour, Kuleba framed Western aid for Ukraine as an investment in global security and prosperity and said the cost of arming Ukraine would be dwarfed by future expenditures should Russian troops prevail.

According to a top U.S. general, the Russian army is now 15 percent larger than it was before the war. Experts also warn of a summer offensive that could incur further losses for Ukraine.

“It's simple: if all of these countries are united around the goal of Ukraine's victory, maybe it's because they see that this victory is important, is also a matter of their security and prosperity,” Kuleba said. “And whatever the price of supporting Ukraine today is, the price of fixing the world, if Russia wins in Ukraine will be much, much higher.”

Kuleba’s comments follow skepticism from critics like Sen. J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) and even some Biden administration officials on Ukraine’s ability to overtake Russia on the battlefield. Still, vocal Ukraine supporters like Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) continue to challenge these assumptions.

“If you want American military members to stay out of the fight with Russia, help Ukraine. If they go into a NATO nation, we’re in a fight,” Graham said during an interview with “Fox News Sunday" host Shannon Bream last week.