Given a lifeline by the U.S., Ukraine must now prove it can beat Russia

Ukraine received a vital reprieve from the U.S. at the weekend after the House of Representatives passed a $61 billion foreign aid package for Kyiv after months of delays and objections from hard-line Republicans.

The bill, which includes additional aid for Israel and Taiwan, now goes to the Democratic-majority Senate which is expected to approve the legislation this week before it's passed on to President Joe Biden to sign into law.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked U.S. lawmakers in the House for passing the bill, saying it "will keep the war from expanding, save thousands and thousands of lives, and help both of our nations to become stronger."

But on social media platform X on Sunday, Zelenskyy urged the Senate to pass the bill as quickly as possible, warning that "the time between political decisions and actual damage to the enemy on the front lines, between the package's approval and our warriors' strengthening, must be as short as possible."

Time is of the essence for Ukraine, which has been pleading for more air defense systems, artillery and ammunition as its forces struggle to hold back a tide of Russian offensives in eastern Ukraine.

Defense analysts argue that while the funding could help breathe new life and morale into Ukraine's beleaguered military campaign, aid and supplies must be sent to Ukraine immediately.

"Ukrainian forces may suffer additional setbacks in the coming weeks while waiting for U.S. security assistance that will allow Ukraine to stabilize the front, but they will likely be able to blunt the current Russian offensive assuming the resumed US assistance arrives promptly," analysts at the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War think tank noted.

"Russian forces will likely