Joe Biden on Monday promised to send “significant” military aid “quickly” to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a phone call after the US Congress firmly approved a new $61 billion envelope for Kiev.
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“The United States will soon provide significant new military assistance to meet Ukraine's urgent battlefield and air defense needs,” according to a press release from White after passing a massive aid package approved by the U.S. Senate on Saturday. House report on this telephone conversation.
“I am grateful to Joe Biden for his unwavering support for Ukraine and his true global leadership,” the Ukrainian head of state said in a message on X, confirming that his US counterpart had assured him that the new aid package would “go fast”. And powerful and will strengthen our air defense, long range and artillery capabilities.
Joe Biden also spoke with European Commission President Ursula van der Leyen, the White House said.
Both agreed that continuing to support Ukraine is “critical.”
The Europeans on Monday pledged to continue providing aid to Kyiv, but without announcing concrete measures, especially at a time when the Ukrainians are demanding anti-aircraft defense batteries.
The lower house of the US Congress, with a Republican majority, on Saturday adopted a massive defense spending plan that has been requested for months by the US president and eagerly anticipated by Ukraine.
The Ukrainian army faces new recruits and a shortage of ammunition, weakening it in the face of continued pressure from Russian troops in the east.
A new U.S. aid package must be approved by the Senate with a Democratic majority soon, perhaps even this week.
