Putin aimed to occupy Kharkiv during delay in U.S. aid - President Zelenskyy

This was stated by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Ronald Reagan Institute.

"Always we have this challenge that from the moment of decision (approval of the aid - ed.) to the moment of equipment you need much time and of course Putin understood and understands, so he has this information," the president said.

According to him, the Kremlin leader wanted to use the six-month delay in the US Congress to "quickly occupy Kharkiv."

"He (Putin - ed.) wanted to occupy Kharkiv. We lost some some villages which are at border, but people God bless people been saved" Zelenskyy added.

The delay in the US aid package

On February 13, 2023, the U.S. Senate voted in favor of a bill to help Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. The bill provides $95.3 billion for the three countries. 

As early as April 2024, U.S. Senator Joni Ernst of the Republican Party said that Congress would vote on an aid package for Ukraine in the next few weeks.

Subsequently, on April 20, the U.S. House of Representatives held a historic vote approving a $95 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

On April 24, U.S. President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion package of bills to help Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan and to confiscate Russian assets under a shortened procedure, which had been approved by the Senate earlier that day.