WASHINGTON, DC —
President Joe Biden announced nearly $3 billion in military aid to Kyiv
on Wednesday — the biggest US package so far — to mark Ukraine’s independence
day, six months after Russia invaded the country.
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In a statement,
Biden signaled the firmness of Washington’s commitment to Ukraine’s struggle,
saying the $2.98 billion for arms and other equipment aimed “to ensure it can
continue to defend itself over the long term.”
The new funds will
be for air defense systems, artillery and the much-in-demand ammunition for
those systems, as well as radars and systems to counter Russian drones, Biden
said.
Congratulating
Ukraine on its independence, which was declared from the Soviet Union in 1991,
Biden said the US “is committed to supporting the people of Ukraine as they
continue the fight to defend their sovereignty.”
“Today is not only
a celebration of the past, but a resounding affirmation that Ukraine proudly
remains — and will remain — a sovereign and independent nation.”
Biden also hailed
Ukraine’s resistance against the invasion, which President Vladimir Putin
launched on February 24 after years of unsuccessfully trying to reassert
Russian control over a westward-looking country that has pushed strongly for
membership in
NATO and the European Union.
Thousands of
soldiers on both sides and thousands of civilians have died in the
largest-scale battles seen in Europe since World War II. Despite Russian
expectations of a quick victory, Ukrainian armed forces, which are trained and
armed by Western allies, have pushed the invaders back to a swath of territory
in the country’s east and south.
“Six months of
relentless attacks have only strengthened Ukrainians’ pride in themselves, in
their country, and in their 31 years of independence,” Biden said.
“Today and every
day, we stand with the Ukrainian people.”
However, despite
rumors of a Ukrainian counter-offensive to try and retake large portions of
occupied territory in the south, the battle lines remain largely frozen,
indicating a possibly lengthy test of resolve for both sides, and for Ukraine’s
Western backers.
The funds released
by Biden Wednesday can be used for immediate war costs, including acquisitions
of supplies and arms, and are separate from the Presidential Drawdown Authority
(PDA), under which Biden has been able to order transfers of weapons and
ammunition to Ukraine’s forces from existing US military stockpiles.
On Friday, the US Department of Defense announced the latest
package under the PDA: $775 million worth of various missiles, artillery, and
anti-armor weapons and ammunition, as well as a fleet of armed mine-removal
vehicles.
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