Ukraine will receive $800 million in military help, as per President Joe Biden
Key Takeaways:
- The news came as the Russian military vowed to attack Ukraine's command center in Kyiv.
- Biden met with Zelensky for approximately an hour before announcing the assistance, according to the White House, offering to "provide Ukraine the means to defend itself."
On Wednesday, US President Joe Biden presented an $800 million military aid package for Ukraine, as international prosecutors designated the war-torn Western ally a "crime scene" amid worries of a big Russian offensive.
The announcement came as the Russian military threatened to target Ukraine's command headquarters in Kyiv, the country's capital if Ukrainian troops continued to attack Russian territory.
"We're seeing attempts by the Ukrainian military to destroy and strike Russian territory. If such incidents continue, Russian forces will attack decision-making centers, including those in Kyiv, "In a statement Russia's defense ministry said.
The warning provoked concern in Ukraine's main city, as Moscow was seen to be altering its war objectives, receding from Kyiv after failing to conquer it and focussing on the south and east.
As Russia comes under greater scrutiny for atrocities unearthed in communities abandoned by its forces, Biden has accused President Vladimir Putin of genocide, a charge the Kremlin has condemned as "unacceptable."
Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau endorsed Biden, but France and Germany did not, angering Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who called French President Emmanuel Macron's attitude "extremely unpleasant for us."
With Kyiv bracing for a massive escalation of hostilities in the eastern Donbas region, the Pentagon said it is trying to offer Ukraine weaponry that will "give them a bit more range and distance."
The next supply from the United States will include armored personnel carriers, helicopters, and some of the heavier weaponry that Washington previously declined to deliver to Ukraine for fear of escalating the confrontation with nuclear-armed Russia.
As per the White House, Biden spoke with Zelensky for about an hour before announcing the help, promising to "give Ukraine the means to defend itself."
The International Criminal Court, based in The Hague and dealing with human rights violations, has investigators in Ukraine telling reporters that the country has become a "crime scene."