Biden administration authorizes additional $800 million in weapons, security assistance to Ukraine

President Biden notified Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday that the USA is authorizing a further $800 million in weapons, ammunition and different safety help to the nation because it fights to defend itself in opposition to Russia’s multi-front conflict.

The president spoke with Zelenskyy Wednesday morning to share the Biden administration’s transfer to offer further safety help.

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“The Ukrainian navy has used the weapons we’re offering to devastating impact,” Biden stated in an announcement Wednesday. “As Russia prepares to accentuate its assault within the Donbas area, the USA will proceed to offer Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself.”

The president stated the brand new package deal of help will comprise “most of the extremely efficient weapons methods we’ve already supplied,” along with “new capabilities tailor-made to the broader assault we anticipate Russia to launch in japanese Ukraine.”

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“These new capabilities embrace artillery methods, artillery rounds and armored personnel carriers,” Biden stated. “I’ve additionally authorised the switch of further helicopters.”

The president added that the U.S. is continuous to facilitate the switch of “important capabilities from our allies and companions all over the world.”

President Biden and Ukraine President Zelenskyy  
(AP/Workplace of the President of Ukraine)

“The regular provide of weapons the USA and its allies and companions have supplied to Ukraine has been vital in sustaining its struggle in opposition to the Russian invasion,” Biden stated. “It has helped be sure that Putin failed in his preliminary conflict goals to overcome and management Ukraine.

“As I assured President Zelenskyy, the American individuals will proceed to face with the courageous Ukrainian individuals of their struggle for freedom.”

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Biden in a memo Wednesday to Secretary of State Antony Blinken, licensed the “drawdown” of $800 million in “protection articles and companies of the Division of Protection and navy schooling and coaching, to offer help to Ukraine and to make the determinations required below such part to direct such a drawdown.” 

The help Biden introduced Wednesday is along with the greater than $1 billion the Biden administration licensed for Ukraine. 

Final month, the Biden administration despatched a safety package deal with 800 Stinger anti-aircraft methods; 2,000 Javelins, 1,000 gentle anti-armor weapons and 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor methods; 100 unmanned drones; 100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine weapons, and 400 shotguns; greater than 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launcher and mortar rounds; 25,000 units of physique armor; and 25,000 helmets. The gear was transferred immediately from the Division of Protection to the Ukrainian navy. 

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Safety assist is continuous to circulate into Ukraine unabated, with senior U.S. protection officers telling Fox Information final week that “every thing we’re doing in respect to Ukraine is being expedited — every thing.”

The Biden administration introduced $300 million in safety help and deadly assist earlier this month, which is separate from the $800 million beforehand licensed in March. That further $300 million in assist was anticipated for use to purchase weapons from protection contractors, an official stated.

The help comes after U.S. protection officers warned {that a} Russian convoy seems to be reinforcing its efforts in Donbas. 

The U.S. and NATO stated final week that Russia will search to hit japanese Ukraine with a “main offensive” after it didn’t take the capital metropolis of Kyiv.