Former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, James Stavridis, has issued a plea for increased aid to Ukraine, expressing concern over the ongoing crisis in the country. Stavridis emphasized that the true action lies in Washington, urging for military support to be provided to Ukraine, whose cause he deems just.

During an appearance on the radio show "Cats Roundtable," hosted by John Catsimatidis, Stavridis highlighted the precariousness of the situation in Ukraine. He stressed that despite half of the Russian army being destroyed, no U.S. soldiers have been killed or faced any risk, and this has been achieved with only 5 percent of the annual U.S. defense budget.

"I'm worried about the war in Ukraine only if the U.S. and our European allies fail to live up to the commitment we've made to support Ukraine," Stavridis asserted. He called for swift action, stating that the U.S. has the means to provide assistance and must do so.

However, discussions regarding an aid package for Ukraine are facing a delay, as Congress is not expected to reconvene before the new year. This has raised concerns about the timing of the assistance, with Ukrainians anxiously preparing for a difficult winter amidst slowing military operations, limited ammunition reserves, and ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure by Russia.

President Biden had requested $61 billion to be allocated towards supporting Ukraine, but the funds are currently held up. Republican lawmakers have stated that they will not approve a package without increased focus on the country's southern border. Consequently, negotiations on the aid package have been pushed into 2024.

The White House has warned that the financial resources available for Ukraine will be depleted by December 30. However, with members of Congress unlikely to return from their holiday breaks before this deadline, the provision of aid to Ukraine remains uncertain.

Ukrainian officials have continuously appealed for assistance, stressing their diminishing ability to defend themselves in the near future. As the funding talks continue to be delayed, the urgency to support Ukraine and alleviate the impending humanitarian crisis grows more pronounced.

The international community now awaits the resumption of discussions in Congress, hoping for a swift resolution to provide the much-needed aid to Ukraine.