Washington offers to evacuate Zelensky, sends military aid
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The US President has announced $600 million in aid to Ukraine and expressed his readiness to evacuate the Ukrainian President from Kiev.
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Ukraine has previously received shipments of lethal weapons from the US
On Saturday, US President Joe Biden announced that he will allocate $600 million in immediate military aid to Ukraine, including $350 for the Department of Defense.
A memorandum issued by the White House reported that the assistance "is important to the security interests of the United States."
The memo stated that the US will send another $350 million worth of weapons and services to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, and this was confirmed by the US Embassy in Kiev.
It is noteworthy that the first batch of US military aid arrived in Ukraine this month, which included $200 million and more than 90 tons of lethal weapons such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and ammunition.
The first shipment of assistance recently directed by President Biden to Ukraine arrived in Ukraine tonight. This shipment includes close to
— U.S. Embassy Kyiv (@USEmbassyKyiv) January 22, 2022
200,000 pounds of lethal aid, including ammunition for the front line defenders of Ukraine. [1/2] pic.twitter.com/YeYanK0Px6
The Washington Post: The US ready to evacuate Zelensky
According to The Washington Post, the US is ready to help Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky leave Kiev " to avoid being captured or killed by advancing Russian forces."
Citing US and Ukrainian officials, The Post claimed Zelensky refused to leave the country, vowing to remain in charge of his government despite "grave personal risks."
Adam B. Schiff (D-Calif), the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee revealed that the US was "ready to assist him in any way," adding that the US has made him aware "not only of the threat of Russian invasion, now a reality, but also the threat to him personally."
Russia has for months been warning of the threat posed against it by NATO's attempts to expand eastward, which happened simultaneously with an increase in NATO military activity along Russia's borders, and batches of lethal weapons being sent to Ukraine, prompting Russia to request security guarantees from the West. Washington failed to provide the guarantees.
Vladimir Putin authorized a special military operation in Donbass over the constant Ukrainian shelling of Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics, whose independence Moscow recognized a few days ahead of the operation.
