US holds back military aid to Ukraine
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Despite Ukrainian appeals, the Biden administration holds back $200 million in military aid to Kyiv to give more time for diplomatic efforts.
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US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky
The Biden administration has delayed $200 million in military aid to Ukraine in a bid to give diplomacy more time to ease tensions between Kyiv and Moscow.
The United States had prepared the $200 million worth of aid to Ukraine over the past few weeks. However, Washington is holding off on delivering the package despite Ukrainian and congressional appeals, people familiar with the issue told NBC News.
Sources reported that other options are on the table to aid Ukraine, including a much bigger package that is to be approved, shall tensions between Russia and Ukraine not simmer down.
US wanted to send weapons & munition
The United States had declared two days ago it was intending to send light weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, but President Joe Biden made it clear that sending US troops to confront Russia was "not on the table."
The US attempts to give way for diplomacy after a summit that brought together President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, which saw them discussing a wide array of issues, mainly Ukraine. However, the summit did not ease any tensions in Kyiv.
Biden said he had warned his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin of unprecedented US sanctions if his country invades Ukraine.
Ukraine and its western allies have been making claims that Russia had mobilized some 90,000 troops on the borders.
Moscow has long denied these claims, which also alleges that Russia is planning a military invasion of Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month Moscow pursues a peaceful foreign policy but has the right to defend its security in the medium and long term.
Russia said Thursday escalating tensions over Ukraine could lead to a reoccurrence of the Cuban missile crisis, which took place in 1962 and brought the world to the brink of nuclear war.
Deputy Russian foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov made the comment when asked if the current situation could turn into something that resembles the Cold War standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union.
