Biden announces additional $800M in security assistance to Ukraine

The United States is allocating an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine which, together with the previous tranche of $200 million, will be used to provide Ukraine with defense systems and weapons in the face of Russian aggression.

U.S. President Joe Biden said this in his remarks at the White House, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

He said that on Saturday, his administration approved about $200 million to ensure a steady flow of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. Biden said that now he again was using his presidential powers to activate additional support in the security sphere and continue to help Ukraine repel the Russian attack, with another $800 million in security assistance.

Thus, he said, the United States has allocated more than $1 billion in new security and defense assistance to Ukraine in the last week alone.

At the request of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the United States is now helping Ukraine to purchase additional long-range air defense systems and ammunition for them, Biden added.

The new aid package also includes 9,000 anti-armor systems. He did not specify which ones, but the Pentagon had previously announced that Javelin systems were being prepared for shipment. In addition, the United States will supply Ukraine with about 7,000 small-arm machine guns, as well as grenade launchers and shotguns, which will be useful to people who came to the defense of their cities and villages in Ukraine. The package also includes over 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds. The United States will also provide the Ukrainian army with drones.