US President Joe Biden announced a $425 million arms package for Kiev during a call with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
The announcement comes ahead of a meeting between the US president and European leaders in Berlin to discuss Ukraine, AFP reports.
The package includes air defense and armored vehicles. Biden also briefed Zelensky "on his efforts to increase security assistance to Ukraine for the remainder of his term," the White House said.
Biden will also hold a virtual meeting of Ukraine's allies in November, the release added, as he seeks to shore up international support for Kiev ahead of Donald Trump's eventual return to the White House in January 2025.
But there is no mention of a decision on whether to allow Ukraine to launch Western-made long-range missiles deep into Russia, a move Biden has so far been reluctant to endorse.
The $425 million U.S. package includes "additional air defense capabilities, air-to-ground munitions, armored vehicles, and critical munitions to meet Ukraine's urgent needs," the White House said.
The U.S. will provide hundreds of air defense missiles, artillery, hundreds of armored personnel carriers and thousands of additional armored vehicles in the coming months, he added.
Meanwhile, Zelensky "briefed President Biden on his plan to defeat Russia, and the two leaders instructed their teams to engage in further consultations on next steps."
Zelensky told X that he had spoken with Biden and thanked him for the package, which included "long-range weapons."
"I am grateful to President Biden, to both parties in Congress, and to the American people for the $425 million defense package announced today," wrote Zelensky, who is due to meet with EU leaders on 17 October.
The United States has provided about $175 billion in military and economic aid to Ukraine during the war, despite frequent Republican opposition.
The call came ahead of Biden's whirlwind trip to Germany, where Ukraine will be high on the agenda.
Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz may be joined by French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer for the talks, media reports said. | BGNES
