Kiev expects the billions in military aid approved by the US will bolster its defence against Moscow while a Russian UN representative warns the funds will "be pocketed" and "tens of thousands of Ukrainians will go to the meat grinder."
On Saturday, the US House of Representatives voted to move a long-delayed aid package worth nearly $61 billion for Ukraine to the Senate, where it is expected to pass and be signed by President Joe Biden.
Russia's deputy ambassador to the United Nations in New York, Dmitry Polyanskiy, wrote on Sunday that there is "nothing to celebrate here."
He wrote that the war would continue and "more money will be pocketed, more weapons stolen and tens of thousands of Ukrainians will go to the meat grinder." He added that Ukraine's defeat was "inevitable."
Ukraine, which is striving to join the European Union and NATO, has been defending itself against a Russian invasion with massive Western support for more than two years.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Facebook that around $50 billion of the package would be spent on Ukraine's defence. This means more weapons for Ukraine, including more air defence and longer-range projectiles.
Another $7.8 billion are earmarked to support Ukraine's national budget. In turn, $1.57 billion are planned as economic aid and $400 million for border protection and demining, according to Shmyhal.
The money will also be used to finance the restoration of important infrastructure, he said. The country's energy facilities have frequently been targets of Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba wrote on X, formerly Twitter, about the US decision that it was: "A bad day for Putin. A bad day for anyone who dared to believe that America could waver when it comes to defending what and who it stands for."
Western military experts expect a boost in Russian missile and drone attacks in Ukraine in the coming weeks before the fresh US military aid actually arrives.
According to an analysis by the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW) in Washington: "Russian forces will likely intensify ongoing offensive operations and missile and drone strikes in the coming weeks in order to exploit the closing window of Ukrainian materiel constraints."
However, the ISW experts stated on Saturday that the Russians have so far only achieved isolated tactical successes in offensive operations and no breakthrough on the front line.
Russia is expected to take advantage of the weakened Ukrainian air defence in particular and intensify its attacks with glide bombs.
However, there is still a risk of an operationally significant Russian advance in the war zone in the coming weeks, the ISW reported. Once Ukrainian air defence improves, the risk for the Russians will increase, it added.
Ukraine is not only expecting air defence systems from the West and the corresponding missiles, but also US F16 fighter jets. The aim of the leadership in Kiev is to regain sovereignty over its own airspace.
The same package approved by the House of Representatives also includes sanctions on Iran and the confiscation of Russian assets as well as aid for Israel and Taiwan.
The Senate had in fact already voted in favour of the multibillion-dollar aid package in February, but there was never a vote in the House of Representatives because of an internal power struggle in the Republican Party.
The US is considered Ukraine's most important ally in its defence against the Russian invasion. Since the start of the war in February 2022, President Biden's administration has provided more than $44 billion in military aid to Kiev.
This is in addition to billions more in non-military financial aid.
According to the US government, the funds authorized by Congress have been used up, which is why the vote on new aid is of great importance.