WASHINGTON DC: U.S. President Joe Biden talked by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy about defense aid for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
Biden also announced a $425 million security assistance package for the eastern European nation that includes additional air defense capabilities, air-to-ground munitions, armored vehicles and munitions critical to addressing its pressing military needs.
The U.S. is set to supply Ukraine with more equipment in the coming months, including hundreds of air defense interceptors, dozens of tactical air defense systems, additional artillery systems, hundreds of armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles.
Biden is scheduled to host a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group next month to coordinate international assistance for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy is planning to press his country’s case for NATO membership on Thursday when he meets in Brussels with defense ministers from the West’s key military alliance, but NATO chief Mark Rutte said “difficult” issues remain before Ukraine can join.
‘Victory plan’
In a speech to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday, Zelenskyy outlined what he described as a “victory plan” to end Russia’s 32-month invasion, including a call for an unconditional invitation to join NATO and for the deployment of a nonnuclear deterrent to Russian aggression.
“Together with our partners, we must change the circumstances so that the war ends,” Zelenskyy said. “Regardless of what [Russian President Vladimir] Putin wants, we must all change the circumstances so that Russia is forced to peace.”
(VOA)
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