Tuesday, February 20, 2024

How Biden Could Send UKR $4.4B in Added Weapons Without Congress – and Why He Won’t; UKR Repels RU Offensive in Zaporizhzhya, Inflicting Heavy Losses; UKR Gains New Ground in Avdiivka Area; UKR Repels 50+ Enemy Attacks in 5 Sectors, LIVE UPDATES and LOTS MORE

NY POST: How Biden could send Ukraine $4.4B in added weapons without Congress – and why he won’t:
President Biden chided House Republicans Monday for failing to vote on the Senate-passed supplemental funding bill, which includes $60 billion for Ukraine, ahead of their two-week break after Kyiv’s troops were forced to abandon the eastern town of Avdiivka to the Russians — citing, in part, a lack of ammunition.
“The way they’re walking away from the threat of Russia, the way they’re walking away from NATO, the way they’re walking away from meeting our obligations, it’s just shocking,” Biden told reporters after returning to the White House from his Delaware vacation home. “I mean, they’re wild. I’ve never seen anything like this.”
But while the White House has claimed for months that the US cannot send Ukraine any additional weapons without congressionally approved funding, the truth is that the president has the authority to send Kyiv billions more in desperately needed munitions, parts and military equipment — without input from Congress.
Biden still enjoys previously granted congressional authority to send roughly $4.4 billion worth of equipment from the Pentagon’s inventory, but he has refused to do so without securing the supplemental funding to backfill the US stockpile.
“We’ve seen the stories: Ukrainian soldiers out of artillery, units rationing ammunition, families worried that the next strike will plunge them into darkness,” Biden posted to X on Friday. “Our bipartisan national security bill would allow Ukraine to keep defending itself against Putin’s vicious onslaught.”
But questions over Biden’s decision to put the onus on the House have grown after Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen announced Sunday that her country would empty its stocks of artillery for Ukraine.
“They [Ukrainians] are asking us for ammunition now, artillery now,” Frederiksen said at the Munich Security Conference on Sunday. “From the Danish side, we decided to donate our entire artillery.”
The prime minister urged Western partners to follow suit by sending all ammunition not currently in use to Kyiv as the Ukraine war approaches its second anniversary and enters what has been described in local media as the most dangerous time for Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces since Russia’s initial invasion. --->READ MORE HERE
Photo:ОК Захід/Telegram
Ukrainian forces repel Russian offensive in Zaporizhzhya, inflicting heavy losses – photo, video:
The Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully repelled a Russian offensive attempt in the Zaporizhzhya front on Feb. 17, the Operational Command West reported on Telegram on Feb. 18.
Eighteen units of Russian equipment, including three tanks, were destroyed, along with about 70 enemy soldiers killed and 80 others wounded.
“The much-hyped ‘Caesar Kunikov’ offensive in the Zaporizhzhya sector failed, as did the (Russian) large landing ship of the same name,” the report said.
Russia deployed 30 units of equipment and a significant number of personnel for the attack.
Earlier, the General Staff reported 13 unsuccessful enemy attacks on Ukrainian troop positions near Verbove and Robotyne in the Zaporizhzhya sector.
On Feb. 14, Dmytro Lykhoviy, spokesperson for the Tavria operational group, said there was a new Russian army group near Orikhiv, Zaporizhzhya Oblast, almost as large as the one in the Avdiivka sector. --->READ and WATCH MORE HERE
Follow links below to +++++relevant+++++ and related stories:

+++++Russia-Ukraine News LATEST UPDATES: (REUTERS) (AP) (NY POST) and (WSJ)+++++

+++++Ukrainian army gains new ground in Avdiivka area, repels Russian attacks in Zaporizhzhia sector+++++

+++++War update: Defense forces repel over 50 enemy attacks in five sectors, thwart attempts to advance in two+++++

Ukrainian Armed Forces eliminate Russian aircraft, 11 tanks and 1,290 soldiers per day - General Staff

Ukrainian army repels 19 Russian attacks in Marinka sector - General Staff

Massive fire broke out in flammable liquids warehouse in Russia's Kemerovo city

ISW: Russia has not demonstrated ability to secure significant gains across large territories

Situation on Zaporizhzhia axis stable, Ukrainian forces hold their ground – military spox

Russia loses aircraft, 40 artillery systems, and more than 1,000 soldiers in one day in Ukraine – General Staff

Russian troops attempt to break through Ukrainian defense of Robotyne — DeepState

In Sumy region, soldiers of 117th Brigade destroyed another Russian 'Murom-M' with drone

Ukrainian Air Force downs 12 Russian Shahed kamikaze drones, one Kh-59 missile, and Su-34 fighter jet

Putin pal threatens Armageddon nuclear attack on DC and London if Russia has to give back any Ukraine territory

Ukrainian soldiers rationing bullets, checking daily for congressional updates over stalled aid: senator

US to transfer confiscated Russian funds to Ukraine via Estonia

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