President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the United States will send another $800 million worth of weapons to Ukraine, after speaking by phone with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.  The White House said that the President authorized an additional $800 million in weapons, ammunition and other security assistance to Ukraine. Biden also approved the transfer of additional helicopters to Ukraine.

Biden said in a statement: “The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect. As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself.”

Prior to the call with Biden, Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: “Without additional weapons, this war will turn into an endless bloodbath that will spread misery, suffering and destruction. Mariupol, Bucha, Kramatorsk — the list goes on. No one will stop Russia except Ukraine with heavy weapons.”  He later tweeted that he and Biden had “Assessed Russian war crimes. Discussed [an] additional package of defensive and possible macro-financial aid. Agreed to enhance sanctions.”

Said Biden: “The steady supply of weapons the United States and its allies and partners have provided to Ukraine has been critical in sustaining its fight against the Russian invasion. It has helped ensure that Putin failed in his initial war aims to conquer and control Ukraine. We cannot rest now. As I assured President Zelensky, the American people will continue to stand with the brave Ukrainian people in their fight for freedom.”

Editorial credit: Alexandros Michailidis / Shutterstock.com