US providing Ukraine with additional $800M in security assistance: Biden

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US is providing Ukraine with an additional $800 million in security assistance ahead of a feared Russian assault on the country's east, President Joe Biden informed his Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday.

Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke for roughly an hour before Biden issued a statement formally announcing the new aid package. It includes weapons, ammunition and other military aid.

"The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect," Biden said. "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."

The new aid package will include "many" of the military systems already provided, and will also include "new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine," said the president.

"These new capabilities include artillery systems, artillery rounds, and armored personnel carriers," he added, further noting the US will also provide additional helicopters.

He did not specify individual systems that will be given to Kyiv, but the US has previously delivered small arms, anti-tank systems like Javelin missiles, anti-air MANPAD systems such as the Stinger, and drones, including the Switchblade loitering munition.

"The steady supply of weapons the United States and its Allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion. It has helped ensure that Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine," said Biden. "We cannot rest now."

At least 1,932 civilians have been killed and 2,589 injured in Ukraine since the start of the war, according to UN estimates, with the true figure feared to be much higher.

More than 4.6 million Ukrainians have fled to other countries, with over 7 million more internally displaced, said the UN refugee agency.