Kyiv - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed gratitude to the US House of Representatives for approving a long-awaited $61 billion (£49 billion) military aid package for Ukraine. He said this support could save thousands of lives.

It's quite remarkable for a nation's fate to depend on a vote taking place 5,000 miles away. Ukraine's wait for this aid package, which took about six months to get approved, has been costly and frustrating. Dwindling ammunition supplies have led to losses in both lives and territory.

This package is a significant boost for Ukraine, providing much-needed military equipment and support. However, it's not a magic solution. It will likely include air defense systems, mid to long-range missiles, and artillery shells. These will help Ukraine challenge Russian air superiority, disrupt Russian supply lines, and slow down advancing troops.

In a brief encounter with Vitaliy, a soldier in central Kyiv, he mentioned that every bit of aid is crucial. "Every cent matters," he said. "It's very much needed. We need everything—every cartridge, every cent, every positive thought. We need all of it." When I was in the Donetsk region last month, the predominant artillery sounds were from the Russian side. Cities like Kostyantynivka and Kramatorsk were bracing for potential Russian advances, and this aid could help stabilize those areas.

While the new aid won't immediately allow Ukraine to reclaim lost territory, it opens the door for future progress. The consensus among officials in Kyiv and Washington is that without this American aid, Ukraine would be in much greater peril.

Maxym, another person I met in Kyiv, said he's relieved that the aid has finally been approved, though he was frustrated by the delay. "I'm really happy about it," he said, "but I'm just a bit disappointed it took so long. Anyway, better late than never."

The debate over whether Ukraine should negotiate peace with Russia, potentially ceding territory, continues to cause friction. Maxym believes that Russia isn't interested in negotiating. "They don't want this middle ground that Europe and the US think will end this war," he said. "They want it all."

Vita, a woman pulling her son off a train, asked rhetorically how Ukraine could survive without this aid. "It's impossible," she said, becoming emotional. "We really want help, for our children to survive. So we wait." She gestured towards her son, indicating the stakes for many Ukrainian families.

The delay in aid also underscores Europe's inability to provide the same level of support as the US. Mykola Bieleskov, a research fellow at the Ukrainian National Institute for Strategic Studies, suggests that Europe and the UK need to increase their weapon production to meet Ukraine's needs, especially considering the possibility of future US aid not being approved.

Despite the return of Western unity behind Ukraine, the slow process of aid approval remains a challenge. Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't face as many political hurdles when it comes to military spending. Meanwhile, Ukraine's own democratic process can sometimes slow down its war mobilization. A controversial conscription law was passed after months of debate and amendments.

Zelensky now faces the challenge of keeping political issues separate from the military effort. The House of Representatives has finally approved billions in new military aid for Ukraine, but the road ahead remains complex. The measure faces vocal opposition in Congress, requiring a fragile bipartisan deal to get through. Now it moves to the Senate, expected to approve it in the coming days, before President Joe Biden can sign it into law.

The package aims to replenish Ukraine's weapons and ammunition while providing more than $9 billion (£7.28 billion) in economic assistance through "forgivable loans." This aid is critical as Ukraine struggles to contain Russia's advances. With a front line stretching more than 1,200km (745 miles), Ukrainian soldiers are running low on munitions and are having to ration artillery shells.

Reports indicate that the situation on the battlefield has "significantly worsened" as Russia intensified its armored assaults.