Ukrain Funding Row: Zelensky pulls out of US Senate briefing

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has opted out of a scheduled high-profile briefing with US lawmakers.

Last-Minute Cancellation Raises Questions
The virtual appearances in both the Senate and the House, originally slated for Tuesday, were abruptly cancelled at the eleventh hour.

Senate leader Chuck Schumer, a Democrat, did not elaborate on the reasons for Zelensky's absence, only mentioning that the Ukrainian president was preoccupied with a "last-minute" matter, reports BBC.

Ukrainian Official Raises Concerns
A top Ukrainian official has issued a warning that the nation faces a severe risk of losing its ongoing war against Russia if additional US military aid is not promptly approved. Andriy Yermak, Zelensky's chief of staff, emphasized the "big risk" of Ukrainian defeat without sustained support from the United States.

White House Advocates for Support, Congress Stalls
The cancellation follows a renewed advocacy effort by the White House for increased support to Ukraine. Despite these efforts, the US Congress has not reached a consensus on a compromise spending package.

Stalemate on the Frontlines
The funding deadlock coincides with a reported practical stalemate on the frontlines of the conflict. Anticipated Ukrainian counter-offensives in the south have shown signs of slowing down.

Kyiv's forces are struggling to maintain control over territory they had previously secured on the east bank of the expansive Dnipro River. The situation on the ground raises concerns about the overall trajectory of the conflict.