On Thursday, President Biden announced that the United States will provide approximately $8 billion in military aid to Ukraine to help the Ukrainian forces in their war against Russian invaders. On the same day, Ukrainian President Zelensky visited the White House for a meeting with President Biden.
The latest round of assistance includes the first batch of precision-guided glide bombs called the Joint Standoff Weapon, with a range of up to 81 miles (130 kilometers). This medium-range missile upgrade will significantly enhance Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian forces and conduct operations at a safer distance.
These bombs are capable of accurately targeting objectives and will be deployed by fighter jets. A U.S. official stated that Biden will not announce permission for Ukraine to use American missiles to strike deeper targets inside Russia.
In a statement, Biden emphasized that supporting Ukraine in resisting Russia has always been a top priority for the United States.
“Today, I announce an increase in security assistance to Ukraine and take a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war,” the President said.
The majority of the new aid ($5.5 billion) will be allocated before the end of the U.S. fiscal year on Monday, September 30, when the funding authorization will expire.
An additional $2.4 billion is provided through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the government to purchase weapons for Ukraine from companies instead of extracting them from U.S. stockpiles.
President Biden stated in his announcement that this will provide Ukraine with additional “air defenses, unmanned aerial systems, and air-to-ground munitions,” and strengthen Ukraine’s defense industrial base to support its maintenance needs.
Furthermore, to further enhance Ukraine’s air defenses, he has directed the Department of Defense to provide Ukraine with additional Patriot air defense systems and additional Patriot missiles. The U.S. will also provide hundreds of additional Patriot and advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles next year to help Ukraine defend its cities and people.
“To enhance Ukraine’s air force capabilities, I have instructed the Department of Defense to expand training for Ukrainian F-16 pilots, including support for training 18 additional pilots next year,” Biden said.
The President also added that to combat Russia’s evasion of sanctions and money laundering activities, the U.S. Department of Justice, Treasury Department, and Secret Service took action on Thursday in coordination with international partners to disrupt a global cryptocurrency network.
“The United States will continue to escalate the costs for Russia in the war in Ukraine and deprive Russia’s defense industrial base of resources,” Biden said. “Through these actions, I send a clear message: the United States will provide the support Ukraine needs to win the war.”
(This article incorporates information from Reuters.)