U.S. President Joe Biden announced another $800 million military aid package for Ukraine, as well as economic assistance, as the country faces a Russian onslaught in the east. This report produced by Jonah Green.
STORY: U.S. President Joe Biden pledged an additional $800 million in more weaponry for Ukraine on Thursday as it faces a fresh onslaught by Russia on its eastern flank.
“This package includes heavy artillery weapons, dozens of howitzers and a hundred and forty four thousand rounds of ammunition to go with those howitzers. It also includes more tactical drones.”
Those drones – or so-called “Ghost” drones – were rapidly developed by the U.S. Air Force for Kyiv and have similar capabilities as armed “Switchblade” drones, the Pentagon said on Thursday.
Biden says the US and allies are “moving as fast as possible” to provide Ukraine with the equipment and weapons it needs as it battles a major offensive from Russia in the east, where the flatter terrain requires a different set of weaponry….
Biden also announced $500 million in direct economic assistance to the Ukrainian government.
“This is money the government can help use to stabilize the economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services to the people of Ukraine.”
Biden said the new assistance -which comes on top of an $800 million dollar package announced last week – will expend most of the remaining funds available for this purpose and that he will make a supplemental funding request to Congress next week.
