‘Critical window’: Biden unveils new aid
Biden vows Putin ‘will never succeed’ in occupying Ukraine, disputes Russian claims that it controls the city of Mariupol
WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden pledged $800 million in more weaponry for Ukraine on Thursday and said he would ask Congress for more money to help bolster support for the Ukrainian military as it faces a fresh onslaught by Russia on its eastern flank.
Addressing Americans from the White House’s Roosevelt Room, Biden pledged to send heavy artillery, dozens of howitzers, and 144,000 rounds of ammunition, as well as tactical drones, as he called on Congress for supplemental funding to provide additional aid for Kyiv.
Biden also announced $500 million in direct economic assistance to the Ukrainian government as it battles to save the lives of people under siege by Russian forces.
“We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Biden said. The United States and allies are “moving as fast as possible” to provide Ukraine with the equipment and weapons it needs.
“Our unity at home with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people, is sending an unmistakable message to Putin -he will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine. That will not happen,” Biden said.
Biden said the new assistance will expend most of the remaining funds available for this purpose and that he will make a supplemental funding request to Congress next week. He said the amount is being discussed. “That’s being decided now. I’m asking the defence Department to put together a proposal,” he said.
Biden spoke after face-to-face talks with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, who is in Washington for a variety of meetings.
The president announced plans to ban Russian-affiliated ships from docking at US ports, as previously reported by Reuters, further ratcheting up pressure on Moscow.
Russia has said it has entered a new stage of its operation and is methodically seeking to “liberate” the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.
Western allies anticipate Russia’s campaign could last many months, grind to a stalemate and test the battlefield capabilities of Ukrainian fighters.
Biden disputed Russian claims of control of the embattled city of Mariupol, saying that “there’s no evidence that Mariupol has completely fallen.” He added that Russia “should allow humanitarian corridors to let people at that steel mill and other places (that) are buried under rubble to get out.”
Kamala Harris sanctioned
Russia on Thursday imposed a travel ban on US vice-president Kamala Harris, Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg and 27 other prominent Americans in retaliation for sanctions imposed over the Kremlin’s military campaign in Ukraine.
The Russian foreign ministry said the travel ban, which also includes top Pentagon officials, US business leaders and journalists, would remain in effect “in perpetuity”.
Putin claims Mariupol
Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed victory in the battle for Mariupol on Thursday, even as he ordered his troops not to risk more losses by storming the giant steel plant containing the last pocket of Ukrainian holdouts in the city. Instead, he directed his forces to seal off the Azovstal plant “so that not even a fly comes through”.
Ukraine scoffed at the idea of a Russian victory.
“This situation means the following: They cannot physically capture Azovstal. They have understood this. They suffered huge losses there,” said Oleksiy Arestovich, an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russia defence minister Sergei Shoigu estimated 2,000 Ukrainian troops remained at the steel plant. Ukrainian officials said about 1,000 civilians were also trapped there along with 500 wounded soldiers.