The blockage in America has impacted Ukrainian morale. The impact for soldiers on the frontline of dwindling supplies is huge.
The impact of this American blockage has been profound.
I have had multiple conversations with diplomats and military officials in Washington DC and all have said the same thing: the situation for Ukraine is depressing, Russia has the upper hand and prospects for Kyiv, without more weapons, are bleak.
The Ukrainians have been running low on all weapons types, even small arms – bullets for their soldiers’ rifles.
Before the House of Representatives approved the $60.8bn aid package on Saturday, it had been more than 480 days since Congress last passed a bill allowing for American weapons to be sent to Ukraine.
There was a White House budgetary fudge earlier this year which freed up some more cash from an existing bill and allowed for some more weapons to be sent. But it wasn’t enough.
Analysts say Russia’s recent airstrike successes are the consequence of a lack of Ukrainian air defence interceptors.
And on the frontline, the artillery and shell imbalance has been growing by the day. The calculation is that there is now a 10-1 advantage to Russia as its own industrial base works full tilt with near-capacity weapons manufacturing.
Ukraine’s energy supply is also under threat as Russia bombs power stations. The current supply is said to be down to 12 gigawatts, far below what the country needs.
The blockage in America has impacted Ukrainian morale too. The impact for soldiers on the frontline of dwindling supplies is huge.