U.S. To Provide $800 Million In New Security Assistance To Ukraine

Washington is preparing to announce additional $800 million in new security assistance to Ukraine, TURAN's U.S. correspondent reports.

The new tranche, which will add to the $7 billion already dispersed, will include “a new advanced Western air defense system for Ukraine, more artillery and ammunition, counter-battery radars, additional ammunition for the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system we’ve already given Ukraine and more HIMARS coming from other countries as well,” President Biden said on Thursday.

The move comes as the president returned to Washington after NATO's Madrid Summit, which he said, "has been about meeting the challenges of today and preparing for the challenges of the future."

"Before the war started, I told Putin that if he invaded Ukraine, NATO would not only get stronger but would get more united, and he would see democracies in the world stand up and oppose his aggression and defend the rules-based order," Biden told reporters. "And that's exactly what we're seeing today."

Putin wanted to break up NATO. He figured the nations would break off from the alliance and act as Finland has since World War II — a neutral nation. "Instead, he got the 'NATOization' of Finland," Biden said.

"We're more united than ever. And with the addition of Finland and Sweden, we'll be stronger than ever. They have serious militaries, both of them."

The U.S. on Thursday also took enforcement action imposing restrictions against a US-based company worth more than $1bn linked to Russian oligarch Suleiman Kerimov, saying the Putin ally used it to funnel and invest shadowy funds.

It is the latest action enforcing Washington’s wide-ranging sanctions against Russian oligarchs and elites following Moscow’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine, which has killed thousands and displaced millions of citizens.

Alex Raufoglu

Washington D.C.