Biden adds $500 million in Ukraine aid

WASHINGTON (AFP) — U.S. President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed “additional capabilities” to help the Ukrainian military, during a telephone call on Wednesday, the White House said in a statement.

Biden also told Zelenskyy that the United States would provide the Ukrainian government with $500 million in direct aid, as Kyiv battles against invading Russian forces.

“The leaders discussed… continued efforts by the United States with allies and partners to identify additional capabilities to help the Ukrainian military defend its country,” the White House said.

Some 20,000 people are believed to have been killed since the Russian invasion began on Feb. 24, according to Zelenskyy, though the number of casualties could not be independently verified.

“Just finished an hour-long conversation,” Zelenskyy tweeted after the call.

“Shared assessment of the situation on the battlefield and at the negotiating table.

“Talked about specific defensive support, a new package of enhanced sanctions, macro-financial and humanitarian aid.”

Pentagon officials said not all the weaponry Biden promised in mid-March, in particular kamikaze-like drones called Switchblades or Soviet-made S-300 anti-aircraft batteries, has been delivered yet.

“We have committed 100 Switchblade tactical unmanned aerial systems to be delivered in the most recent package of presidential drawdown,” Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for International Security Affairs, told a congressional hearing Wednesday.