CARGO SHIP HITS RUSSIAN MINE AS US RELEASES ‘LAST’ UKRAINE AID

▶ Kyiv to receive $250 million in equipment amid deadlock in Congress over future assistance

A commercial vessel has hit a Russian mine in the Black Sea, raising questions about the future of regional shipping amid a stalemate in the US Congress over further military aid for Ukraine.

A Panama-flagged ship was heading towards Ukraine’s Danube port on Thursday when it struck the Russian mine. Two crew members were injured in the explosion.

Moscow warned in July that any ships using the waterway would be suspected of carrying military cargo and that “the flag countries of such ships will be considered parties to the Ukrainian conflict”.

Russia and Ukraine are among the world’s biggest exporters of grain and fertiliser, and the Black Sea, on which they each have several ports, is a major global shipping route.

In July last year, as global food prices surged, Moscow and Kyiv struck a deal to allow commercial ships to pass through the Black Sea on the condition that both sides be allowed to inspect cargo.

But the UN-brokered deal collapsed earlier this year, with Russia blaming the world body’s failure to comply with provisions aimed at easing exports of agricultural products and fertiliser.

Meanwhile, the US released what it called the last available consignment of military aid for Ukraine, as a stand-off continues in Congress over further support for Kyiv’s battle against the Russian invasion.

“This package provides up to $250 million of arms and equipment under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine,” the US State Department said on Thursday.

The package includes “air defence munitions, other air defence system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armour munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition”.

The Pentagon has warned for months that aid for Ukraine was drying up, saying last month that the US disbursed 95 per cent of the budgeted $62.3 billion and had only $1 billion left to replenish stockpiles of weapons sent to Kyiv.

“As you’ve seen, our packages have been getting smaller because we have had to [ration] our support for Ukraine,” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said at the time.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said last week that the coming consignment of US military aid would be the last available, leaving “no more replenishment authority”.

“We’re going to need Congress to act without delay,” he said.

In October, US President Joe Biden called on Congress to pass an emergency spending bill, under which a further $61.4 billion would be allocated to Ukraine.

But Republicans in Congress countered with a much smaller bill that allocated almost all funds to Israel and provided nothing to Ukraine.

Hardliners within the party are demanding more funding to secure the southern border with Mexico amid a surge in migrant crossings.

Democrats in the Senate, where they hold a narrow majority, tried unsuccessfully to push Republicans to back a last-minute deal before the festive holidays. Congress reconvenes on January 8.

Even with Senate approval, the deal would have to pass in the House of Representatives, where Republicans, dominated by a hard-right faction, hold their own narrow majority.

Moscow warned in July that any ships using the waterway would be suspected of carrying military cargo