Washington has sent four planes loaded with security assistance to Ukraine over the weekend and made one more delivery on Monday, as per Psaki…reports Asian Lite News
US President Joe Biden will hold a call with allies to discuss the Ukraine crisis, including on how to coordinate on holding Russia accountable, according to the White House.
“The President will convene a secure video call with allies and partners to discuss our continued support for Ukraine and efforts to hold Russia accountable as part of our close coordination,” it said in a statement.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida will also take part in the video call with President Biden and other leaders, Chief Cabinet Secretary of Japan Hirokazu Matsuno said on Tuesday.
“Participation of Prime Minister Kishida in this conversation is planned. We intend to express our firm position on the situation in Ukraine,” Matsuno said at a press conference.
Meanwhile, White House spokesperson Jen Psaki said on Monday said that Biden has no plans to visit Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“There are no plans for the President to go,” Psaki said regarding the Biden administration’s plans to send a high-level US official to Kiev soon.
The US earlier had announced to provide Ukraine with an additional 800 million US dollars’ worth of military aid including heavy artillery as Washington anticipated a “wider assault” by Russia in eastern Ukraine.
Today, Washington has sent four planes loaded with security assistance to Ukraine over the weekend and made one more delivery on Monday, as per Psaki.
“There were four planes that arrived of military assistance over the course of the weekend, another one is supposed to arrive today if it hasn’t already from the US 800 million package the President announced,” Psaki said during a press briefing on Monday.
The United States remains the largest supplier of military aid to Ukraine among the 30 allies supporting the country.
Washington has committed more than USD 3.2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since President Joe Biden took office in January 2021. Approximately USD 2.6 billion of the total amount was approved since the beginning of Russia’s special military operation in Ukraine at the end on February, according to the Defense Department.
The US military assistance includes lethal weapons such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, Javelin anti-armor systems, Howitzers and artillery rounds, Mi-17 helicopters, small arms and ammunition, drones, radar devices, among other equipment, according to Sputnik.
On February 24, Russia launched a military operation in Ukraine after the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Luhansk appealed for help in defending themselves against Ukrainian forces. In response, the West rolled out a comprehensive sanctions campaign against Moscow, which includes airspace closures and restrictive measures targeting numerous Russian officials and entities, media and financial institutions.
Japan has sanctioned 499 Russian individuals, including top-level officials and businesspersons, nine banks and about 40 organizations. Moreover, 130 Russian entities were banned from exports of semiconductors, lasers, software, jet engines and oil refinery equipment. Japan has also banned the exports of luxury goods to Russia.
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