Biden pledges fresh military support for Ukraine
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and US President Joe Biden react as they attend a Ukraine Compact meeting, on the sidelines of the NATO's 75th anniversary summit in Washington, US on July 11, 2024. File Photo Reuters
US President Joe Biden announced new military assistance for Ukraine during a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, according to the White House statement.
A US official said the military aid was worth $125 million according to Reuters. In the call, Biden reaffirmed to Zelenskiy the US' "unwavering support for the people of Ukraine" in its war with Russia, the White House said in a statement.
The aid package includes air-defence missiles, counter-drone equipment, anti-armor missiles and ammunition for Ukrainian forces, the statement said. Biden reiterated US support for Ukraine's fight against Russia, stating that Ukraine will prevail with the backing of the US and its allies.
The announcement came before Ukraine's independence day on August 24, coinciding with US sanctions on nearly 400 Russian entities linked to the war.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the US has provided over $55 billion in military aid to Ukraine. This announcement follows Ukraine's recent military offensive in Russia's Kursk region, marking one of the most significant foreign incursions on Russian soil since World War II.