President Biden announces a $200 million military aid package for Ukraine, as Ukrainian President Zelenskyy seeks further U.S. support amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
By yourNEWS Media Staff
During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the White House, President Biden announced an additional $200 million military aid package to Ukraine. This move underscores the U.S.’s ongoing commitment to support Ukraine in its conflict with Russia.
Biden’s announcement was timely, coinciding with Zelenskyy’s meetings with congressional leaders to request more aid from the U.S. “I just signed another $200 million drawdown for the Department of Defense for Ukraine, and that’ll be coming,” Biden stated during an on-camera meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office.
The latest aid package will include a range of military equipment and ammunition, taken from Pentagon stockpiles. This includes ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), high-speed anti-radiation missiles, anti-armor systems, artillery rounds, missiles, demolition munitions, small-arms ammunition, and other essential equipment and spare parts.
With this package, the U.S. now has approximately $4.4 billion left in weapons it can provide from department stockpiles to support Ukraine.
Zelenskyy’s Washington visit comes at a critical juncture for Ukraine. President Biden’s proposal for an additional $110 billion U.S. aid package, intended for Ukraine, Israel, and other national security needs, is facing challenges in Congress. Republican lawmakers are demanding the package be tied to stringent U.S.-Mexico border security measures, a condition that Democrats strongly oppose.
During his visit, Zelenskyy engaged in private discussions with key U.S. lawmakers, including Democrat Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and new Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson. Schumer described the meeting as “very powerful,” though there was no immediate progress reported on the negotiations.
House Speaker Johnson, after the meeting, affirmed the intention to support Ukraine: “We do want to do the right thing here.”
The White House has emphasized the importance of Zelenskyy’s visit, particularly as it pushes for congressional approval of the aid package before the year-end holidays. Amidst other global concerns, such as the Israel-Hamas conflict, a top White House spokesperson highlighted the urgency of not allowing Ukraine aid to lapse. The administration is open to compromises with Republicans to ensure the continuity of support for Ukraine.
