Biden authorizes another $800M in military aid for Ukraine
The United States will continue sending arms to Ukraine to curb Russia's advances despite the latter urging the West to halt the influx of weapons to avoid further escalation.
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US President Joe Biden during remarks in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building's South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, US, March 31, 2022 (Reuters)
The United States is giving another $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine, President Joe Biden announced Wednesday following a call with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky.
The latest package of lethal weapons will include systems already deployed in Ukraine and "new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine," as Biden claimed.
In detail, Washington will be giving Kiev artillery systems and munition, in addition to armored personnel carriers. "I have approved the transfer of additional helicopters. In addition, we continue to facilitate the transfer of significant capabilities from our allies and partners around the world," Biden added.
Washington's assistance comes after reports allegedly reached the Pentagon's doorstep that Russia was preparing for attacks in Eastern Ukraine.
CNBC reported that a senior US defense official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told reporters on a conference call that Russia is preparing for "a renewed push" in the East.
"We continue to see movements and activity of Russian forces in Belarus and in Russia. They continue to reassemble their forces, stage them, equip and materially support them," the official claimed.
This comes after the Russian ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, warned that the influx of Western arms to the conflict zone in Ukraine was adding fuel to the fire.
"It is extremely important that Western countries stop adding fuel to the fire by pumping Kiev's regime with weapons," he said.
Since the start of the war, the United States has deployed more than 100,000 of its troops to NATO member states, with the Biden administration authorizing $1.7 billion in military aid. Since Biden took office, however, Washington has given Ukraine $2.4 billion in military assistance, the White House said.
The European Union, on the other hand, has agreed to send $500 million worth of arms and equipment to Kiev, and Ukraine nonetheless still urged the West to boost its military capabilities.
The United Kingdom, before the US, was the latest Western country that announced sending more arms to Ukraine, namely Starstreak missiles, in a package worth some £150 million ($195 million).
This added to the package of billions of dollars of arms and military equipment sent to Kiev since the war began, not to mention the military training provided to Ukrainian soldiers.
