US President Joe Biden has told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Washington is releasing $1bn in new security assistance to Kyiv amid fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, the White House said.
In a statement released after the call between the two leaders on Wednesday, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to helping Ukraine against what he called “Russia’s brutal and ongoing war” on the country.
“I informed President Zelenskyy that the United States is providing another $1 billion in security assistance for Ukraine, including additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas,” Biden said.
The release of aid comes from the more than $40bn the US has allocated for aid to Ukraine.
The US had previously sent rocket systemsto the country while stressing that it will not provide weapons that can reach targets inside Russia.
