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Biden says U.S. will send $1 billion more in military aid to Ukraine

President Biden on Wednesday announced that the United States will send an additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing war.

In a statement, Biden said that he spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier Wednesday to inform him of incoming assistance and reaffirm “my commitment that the United States will stand by Ukraine as it defends its democracy and support its sovereignty and territorial integrity in the face of unprovoked Russian aggression.”

The aid package includes “additional artillery and coastal defense weapons, as well as ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas,” Biden said.

The U.S. has now provided Ukraine with about $5.6 billion worth of weapons since the war began.

Joe Biden
President Biden speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One on Tuesday. (Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters)

The president also announced an additional $225 million in humanitarian aid to help people inside Ukraine survive Russia’s invasion, now in its fourth month.

“The bravery, resilience, and determination of the Ukrainian people continues to inspire the world,” Biden added. “And the United States, together with our allies and partners, will not waver in our commitment to the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom.”

According to the United Nations human rights office, at least 4,452 civilians, including more than 200 children, have been killed in Ukraine since the invasion began on Feb. 24, though the agency believes the actual death toll is likely much higher.