U.S. President Joe Biden says the United States will send another $800 million in military support to Ukraine to help the country defend against Russian forces in the Donbas region.
Biden said the weapons will go “directly to the front lines of defending freedom” to support brave Ukrainian forces and civilians who are fighting the Russian invasion in the region.
"We’re in a critical window now, of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said, speaking at the White House on April 21. The United States and allies are “moving as fast as possible” to provide Ukraine with the equipment and weapons it needs, he added.
Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine
RFE/RL's Ukraine Live Briefing gives you the latest developments on Russia's invasion, Western military aid, the plight of civilians, and territorial control maps. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here.
The new package will ensure the steady flow of weapons into Ukraine over the next few weeks, Biden said. It includes heavy weapons such was artillery, howitzers, 144,000 rounds of ammunition, and tactical drones. It comes on top of $800 million in aid announced last week.
The United States will also continue to share timely intelligence with Ukrainian forces and facilitate the delivery of weapons from other allies and partners from around the world, Biden said.
Biden also announced $500 million in direct economic assistance that the United States will provide to Ukraine to help the country stabilize its economy.
Biden said he will ask Congress next week to approve billions more dollars in aid for Ukraine because the $13.6 billion assistance package passed last month is “almost exhausted.”
He vowed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “will never succeed” in occupying Ukraine and stressed the need for continued unity among Western allies.
"Our unity at home with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people, is sending an unmistakable message to Putin -- he will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine. That will not happen," Biden said.
Biden also said that, despite Putin’s claims, there no evidence that the southeastern port city of Mariupol has completely fallen. He called on Russia to provide humanitarian corridors so that civilians may flee safely.