Biden, Harris speak with Zelensky As U.S. Sends More HIMARS, Artillery To Ukraine

The Biden administration on Tuesday unveiled a $625 million security assistance package to Ukraine, bringing its commitment to more than $16.8 billion since Russia invaded the country in late February, TURAN's Washington correspondent report.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the package amid Russia’s annexation of regions in the eastern and southern parts of the country. They underscored that the U.S. “will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory,” the White House said in a readout of the conversation.

The move came as White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan met with Andriy Yermak, head of the office of Ukraine’s president, in Istanbul on Sunday, during which Sullivan said there would be ”severe costs” for anyone who supported Russia’s annexation.

"We have made our opposition to these annexations quite, quite clear and quite vocal"  State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told TURAN's Washington correspondent during his daily press briefing. "We have taken a number of actions since last week to make clear our vehement condemnation and opposition to the efforts around not just the sham referenda but also the annexation," he added.

Tuesday’s weapons package will be the second under presidential drawdown authority, and includes four High Mobility Rocket Artillery Systems, 16 155 mm howitzers, 16 105 mm howitzers, 75,000 155mm artillery rounds, 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds and 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine Systems, among other equipment.

Biden during his phone calls with Zelensky also affirmed the U.S.’s “continued readiness” to impose sanctions on any entity that supports Russia’s annexation, and welcomed an agreement that allowed the safe export of grain from Ukraine, the White House said.

The president also spoke of the U.S.’s efforts to “rally the world behind Ukraine’s efforts to defend its freedom and democracy, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter,” the statement reads.

“Recent developments from Russia’s sham referenda and attempted annexation to new revelations of brutality against civilians in Ukrainian territory formerly controlled by Russia only strengthens our resolve. United with our Allies and partners from 50 nations, we are delivering the arms and equipment that Ukraine’s forces are utilizing so effectively today in a successful counter-offensive to take back their lands seized illegally by Russia,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"We will continue to stand with the people of Ukraine as they defend their freedom and independence with extraordinary courage and boundless determination," Blinken added.  "The capabilities we are delivering are carefully calibrated to make the most difference on the battlefield and strengthen Ukraine’s hand at the negotiating table when the time is right."

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.