US President Joe Biden blamed congressional inaction for the setback following the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the city of Avdiivka. Biden once again assured Zelenskyj the support of the USA and emphasized that Congress urgently needed to approve a new aid package for Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also emphasized that the domestic political dispute in the USA was increasing the ammunition shortage in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the army he sent to war on the capture of AvDiivka, the Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.