Leaders | Good news, for now

America’s latest aid will give Ukraine only a temporary reprieve

The bitterness of the struggle in Washington is a sign of trouble ahead

A serviceman from the National Guard of Ukraine prepares a shell for a howitzer on the front line in Donetsk region, Ukraine
Photograph: Reuters

THROW A MAN a life jacket and you remove an immediate danger. But if he is miles from safety and the waters are frigid, he is still in peril. That, more or less, is how to think about Ukraine after President Joe Biden signed a long-delayed bill on April 24th. This will allocate $61bn-worth of military and financial assistance to help it fight back against the Russian invaders, as well as providing money for Israel and Taiwan. Had the cash not come through, as seemed possible during six months of congressional deadlock, Ukraine faced the prospect of losing yet more of its territory to a fresh Russian offensive expected early in the summer. Alas, although $61bn keeps Ukraine afloat, it remains far from the shore.

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This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Good news, for now”

From the April 27th 2024 edition

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