New Delhi: As the Russian offensive in Ukraine enters its 50th day, the United States on Wednesday announced an additional $800 million worth of military aid including heavy artillery as Washington anticipated a “wider assault” by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
“As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself,” Biden said in a statement after a phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
“Will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” Biden said.
The military aid includes 18 155mm howitzers and 40,000 artillery rounds, 200 M113 armoured personnel carriers, and 11 Mi-17 helicopters.
HIGHLIGHTS
- The Biden administration is considering sending a high-level official to Kyiv to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
- No final decision on the deligation but it could be President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, Secretary of State Antony Blinken or Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
- Ukraine told Russia to release prisoners of war if it wants President Putin’s most high-profile ally.
- Viktor Medvedchuk was captured by the Ukrainian authorities on Tuesday.
- Zelenskyy posted a photo of Medvedchuk on his Instagram account and wrote – “I propose to the Russian Federation: exchange this guy of yours for our guys and girls now held in Russian captivity.”
- The United States is likely to announce a new military aid package worth $750 million for Ukraine
- Putin on Tuesday clarified that the Russian offensive in east Ukraine will continue till his goals were met.
- The Russian president also claimed that photos and videos from the Bucha were fake.
- Putin also responded to the sanctions from the west by saying that it is impossible to isolate Russia.”We don’t intend to be isolated. It is impossible to severely isolate anyone in the modern world – especially such a vast country as Russia,” he was quoted as saying in reports.