President of the United States, Joe Biden says he aimed to give Ukraine the arms necessary to defend itself in the “difficult days ahead”.
Biden said the U.S. is sending more anti-aircraft and anti-tank weapons and drones to Ukraine to assist in its defence against Russia.
He announced after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged the U.S. and other Western nations to do more in an emotional speech to Congress.
Biden formally announced that his administration was sending an additional $800 million in military assistance to Ukraine, making a total of $2 billion in aid sent to Kyiv since Biden took office more than a year ago.
Recall that about $1 billion in aid has been sent in just the last week.
Biden said the new assistance includes 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 100 grenade launchers, 20 million rounds of small arms ammunition and grenade launchers and mortar rounds and an unspecified number of drones.
“We’re going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead,” Biden said.
Biden spoke hours after Zelensky delivered a video address to members of U.S. Congress in which he made an impassioned plea for the U.S. and West to provide more help to save his young democracy than world leaders have so far pledged to provide.
