US stresses aid to Ukraine Zebai calls to discuss Russia-Ukraine situation

A White House statement read: “President Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky today to discuss support for Ukraine as it defends Russian aggression. “They discussed the ongoing counteroffensive in Ukraine, and President Biden reiterated the unwavering support of the United States, including through continued security, economic, and humanitarian assistance.”

The two leaders also discussed recent events in Russia, the statement said. “Yesterday’s events exposed the weakness of the Putin regime,” Mr Zelensky said in a telephone call with Mr Biden. The Ukrainian president said the world must put pressure on Russia until international order is restored.

The two leaders also discussed ways to implement a peace plan for Ukraine and their positions on the upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, on July 11-12.

According to the Ukrainian Presidential Palace, Zelensky said during the call that the world must put pressure on Russia until the international order is restored, he thanked Biden for his continued support for Ukraine, and specifically mentioned that the United States provided an advanced Patriot air defense system, Zelensky stressed the importance of further improving Ukraine’s ability to protect its own skies, in this case, He also thanked the United States for its support of the Fighter International Coalition.

The two leaders also discussed further expanding defense cooperation, in particular increasing Ukraine’s firepower on the battlefield, with a focus on long-range weapons, the presidential office said. Zelensky told Biden, “I thank you and the American people for being ready to stand with Ukraine until all our territories are fully liberated within internationally recognized borders.”

In addition, it is worth mentioning that three anonymous US officials recently disclosed to the media that the United States is providing up to $500 million in additional military aid to Ukraine, and the package is expected to include another 55 Stryker and Bradley armored vehicles. The latest aid also includes ammunition for Patriot surface-to-air missile systems and more rockets for Ukraine’s “high Mobility Artillery Rocket System.”

The plan would also provide Ukraine with a large number of “Bangalore” torpedoes – explosives placed in connection tubes that can clear obstacles from protected positions and used to open a path about four meters wide through barbed wire, dense undergrowth or landmine covered areas.

U.S. officials say a small number of Bangalore torpedoes have so far proved “very useful” to Ukraine. The latest aid package, once released, will mark the 41st time since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 that President Biden has authorized the transfer of military equipment from the Defense Department’s inventory.