Key Takeaways:
- US President Joe Biden will send a fresh $375 million in military assistance to Ukraine
- The announcement comes hours after Russia announced it had taken complete control over the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut
- The US is facing a severe debt ceiling crisis while Joe Biden funds Ukraine’s defense efforts
YEREVAN (CoinChapter.com) — As Russia celebrates its victory in Bakhmut, US President Joe Biden has unveiled a new military aid package worth up to $375 million for Ukraine, reinforcing the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
More Weapons for Ukraine
The announcement came during a meeting between President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan. The aid package includes ammunition, artillery, armored vehicles, and training.
“Today, I announced the next tranche of U.S. security assistance to Ukraine – a package that includes more ammunition, artillery, armored vehicles to bolster Ukraine’s battlefield abilities,”
Joe Biden said in a statement.
The announcement of the recent military aid comes when tensions over the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut are at an all-time high. Over the weekend, Russia claimed it had finally captured the city, thanks to the efforts of the notorious Wagner Group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated his troops for “liberating” the city on Saturday. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that although Russia had “destroyed” Bakhmut, the city is “not occupied.”
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Aid Not Without Assurance
During the G7 summit, President Biden assured his Ukrainian counterpart that the United States and the entire G7 stand firmly behind Ukraine and once again pledged unwavering support.
The White House further emphasized that the aid package aims to bolster Ukraine’s long-term capacity to defend against and deter Russian aggression.
Additionally, Joe Biden discussed plans for a joint effort with allied and partner nations to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including the F-16.
However, the Biden Administration also sought reassurance from President Zelenskyy that his troops would not utilize the provided F-16s to encroach on Russian territory. President Biden expressed that the aircraft should be used exclusively to address the presence of Russian troops within Ukraine and its vicinity.
President Zelenskyy, meanwhile, provided a “flat assurance” that the F-16s would not be deployed beyond this intended purpose.
Moreover, President Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to the US for the newly announced aid package and the financial assistance totaling $37 billion provided thus far.
The Ukrainian leader acknowledged the significant support from the United States and highlighted the importance of strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities in the face of ongoing tensions with Russia.
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Biden Administration Arms Ukraine Amid Debt Ceiling Crisis
The recent announcement of a $375 million military aid package from the United States to Ukraine demonstrates the Biden administration’s commitment to bolstering Ukraine’s defense capabilities and regional stability.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken states that the aid package includes vital resources to help Ukraine protect itself against Russian aggression.
“This security assistance package includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, armored medical treatment vehicles, trucks and trailers to transport heavy equipment, spare parts and other field equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defenders on the battlefield,”
Blinken said in an official Press Statement.
However, while the Biden Administration continues to pour money into Ukraine, American citizens are concerned.
The US is on the verge of default. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned on several occasions that the Government could run out of money by June if the US Congress fails to increase or abolish the debt ceiling.
Meanwhile, the White House and the Republican-controlled House have yet to agree to a deal to address this concern. Previous meetings have failed to yield any results. However, President Biden is scheduled to meet Speaker Kevin McCarthy upon his return from Japan.
Why is Ukraine Losing Territory to Russia?
While the Biden Administration gets ready to send more military aid to Ukraine, social media users want to know why previous efforts have failed to translate into tangible results on the battlefield.
“You sent $150+ billion to Ukraine and they couldn’t even hold Bakhmut. Russia has gained an enormous amount of territory and fires missiles, drones and bombs at any target in Ukraine at will. Your war propaganda failed, your sanctions failed, nobody wants your stupid proxy war,”
Kim Dotcom, the founder of now-defunct file hosting service Megaupload, wrote.
Military assistance to Kyiv has become a topic of much debate in the United States. It has been 15 months since Vladimir Putin ordered his troops to invade Ukraine. The West has imposed sanctions on Moscow and poured in billions to bring a power balance on the battlefield.
However, the sanctions have since backfired. As a result, the US economy has taken a hit, and the global position of the US Dollar stands challenged.
US citizens now demand results from all the aid flowing to Ukraine. The Biden Administration claims that “the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine for as long as it takes.”
However, Americans may not agree with President Biden if he fails to solve the problems at home first.
