Elections in US, other countries will affect Ukraine aid discussion – Lithuanian president

VILNIUS – Discussion on international decisions on helping Ukraine will have to take the election factor in the United States and other Western countries into account, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda says.

On Wednesday, Republican senators blocked a White House request for a 106 billion US dollar (97.4 billion euro) joint emergency aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, after Democrats refused to fund measures to fight illegal migration

"The situation is not simple. I certainly don't want to wrap my words up in pretty cotton wool and say that everything is fine," the president told reporters on Thursday. "Certain things are changing internationally, and political cycles are changing in different countries, including the big ones. They are also changing in some EU countries, so we will have to take the election factor into account when it comes to decisions that are vital for Ukraine."

Nauseda vows do everything he can for Ukraine to continue receiving support and for partners not to turn away from Ukraine at a crucial stage of the war.

Nauseda hopes that the EU will be able to agree on billions of euros in support for Ukraine, although he acknowledged that some EU members are skeptical about this proposal.