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Biden authorises new $800m package in military aid for Ukraine

President cites 'critical window' to deliver heavy artillery, ammunition and tactical drones

Kyle Fitzgerald
Kyle Fitzgerald

April 21, 2022

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Citing a "critical window", US President Joe Biden on Thursday authorised a new $800 million package in military aid for Ukraine as the country fights off Russia's invasion.

"This package includes heavy artillery weapons, dozens of howitzers, and 144,000 rounds of ammunition to go with those howitzers. It also includes more tactical drones," Mr Biden said in an address from the White House.

Invoking former president Theodore Roosevelt, Mr Biden said: "Sometimes we will speak softly and carry a large Javelin", in reference to the missiles the US has already provided to Ukraine.

The Pentagon announced the package would include 72 howitzers, 72 vehicles to tow the artillery weapons, more than121 Phoenix Ghost Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems and additional field equipment and spare parts.

The announcement came as Russia relaunched its campaign to seize territory in eastern Ukraine. Russia has said it is seeking to "liberate" the Donbas region.

"We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” Mr Biden said. The president added the US and its partners are "moving as fast as possible" to supply Ukraine with equipment to defend itself.

The US has already begun training Ukrainian forces in the use of howitzers, which were included in the previous package.

The announcement comes as other Western nations have stepped up their assistance to Ukraine. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this week said his country will send heavy artillery to Ukraine, and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the Netherlands will send more heavy weapons, including armoured vehicles.

The president also announced the banning of Russian ships from US borders, further increasing pressure on Moscow's economy. Russian ships have already been banned from ports in Europe.

"This is yet another critical step we're taking in concert with our partners in the European Union, United Kingdom, Canada and further to deny Russia the benefits of international economic system that they so enjoyed in the past," he said.

Pro-Russian troops, including fighters of the Chechen special forces unit, survey the destroyed administration building of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Reuters
Pro-Russian troops, including fighters of the Chechen special forces unit, survey the destroyed administration building of Azovstal Iron and Steel Works in Mariupol, Ukraine. Reuters
A young Ukrainian refugee, one of 71 to board a flight from Moldova, sits on a suitcase after arriving in Bordeaux, France. AFP
A young Ukrainian refugee, one of 71 to board a flight from Moldova, sits on a suitcase after arriving in Bordeaux, France. AFP
A member of a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine carries an unexploded projectile during mine clearing near Brovary, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
A member of a demining team of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine carries an unexploded projectile during mine clearing near Brovary, north-east of Kyiv. AFP
An armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops presses on in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Reuters
An armoured convoy of pro-Russian troops presses on in the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Reuters
A worker cleans a statue of the founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin at Moscow Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. AFP
A worker cleans a statue of the founder of the Soviet Union Vladimir Lenin at Moscow Square in Saint Petersburg, Russia. AFP
Firefighters battle flames at a warehouse after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
Firefighters battle flames at a warehouse after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
People walk along a street past a missile that stuck in the ground, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Rubizhne, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Reuters
People walk along a street past a missile that stuck in the ground, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Rubizhne, Luhansk region, Ukraine. Reuters
A man rides his bicycle next to a destroyed Russian tank in Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
A man rides his bicycle next to a destroyed Russian tank in Chernihiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
A man walks next to a fire after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
A man walks next to a fire after a Russian bombardment in Kharkiv, Ukraine. AP Photo
A Ukrainian refugee from Mariupol area, is greeted after arriving in a small convoy that crossed through a territory held by Russian forces, after the opening of a humanitarian corridor, at a registration center for internally displaced people, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Reuters
A Ukrainian refugee from Mariupol area, is greeted after arriving in a small convoy that crossed through a territory held by Russian forces, after the opening of a humanitarian corridor, at a registration center for internally displaced people, amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine. Reuters
A Ukrainian soldier stands during the funeral of his father in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
A Ukrainian soldier stands during the funeral of his father in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian soldiers walk on a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian soldiers walk on a destroyed bridge in Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. AP
Ukrainians receive humanitarian aid organised by local volunteers in Irpin. AP
Ukrainians receive humanitarian aid organised by local volunteers in Irpin. AP
Volodymyr Lukyanovych, 63, cuts wood to make a fire outside his house in Irpin. His home was destroyed by Russian shelling. AP
Volodymyr Lukyanovych, 63, cuts wood to make a fire outside his house in Irpin. His home was destroyed by Russian shelling. AP
Vova, 10, and his father, Ivan Drahun, look at the grave of his mother, Maryna, during her funeral in Bucha. AP
Vova, 10, and his father, Ivan Drahun, look at the grave of his mother, Maryna, during her funeral in Bucha. AP
Sergei, 11, waits his turn to receive donated food during an aid humanitarian distribution in Bucha. AP
Sergei, 11, waits his turn to receive donated food during an aid humanitarian distribution in Bucha. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and European Council President Charles Michel attend a news conference after their meeting in Kyiv. AP
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and European Council President Charles Michel attend a news conference after their meeting in Kyiv. AP
People pay their respects during the funeral in Kyiv for Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Karas, who died fighting Russian troops. AP
People pay their respects during the funeral in Kyiv for Ukrainian serviceman Volodymyr Karas, who died fighting Russian troops. AP
Alexandra Kusminova pets her cat, named Mouse, in a restaurant in Dnipro, Ukraine, that was transformed into a shelter for those fleeing the war. AP
Alexandra Kusminova pets her cat, named Mouse, in a restaurant in Dnipro, Ukraine, that was transformed into a shelter for those fleeing the war. AP
A woman reads a book as she lays on a bed in the shelter. AP
A woman reads a book as she lays on a bed in the shelter. AP
City workers repair a war-damaged road in Bucha. Getty Images
City workers repair a war-damaged road in Bucha. Getty Images
The village council and police department buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Lymany, just outside Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Getty Images
The village council and police department buildings destroyed by Russian shelling in Lymany, just outside Mykolaiv, Ukraine. Getty Images
Local residents receive bottled water from a truck, since there has been no running water for more than a week in Mykolaiv. Getty Images
Local residents receive bottled water from a truck, since there has been no running water for more than a week in Mykolaiv. Getty Images
A destroyed car on the road between Kyiv and Chernihiv. EPA
A destroyed car on the road between Kyiv and Chernihiv. EPA
A man looks at a burned APC in Yahidne, Chernihiv. EPA
A man looks at a burned APC in Yahidne, Chernihiv. EPA
A man holds part of a missile in Yahidne. EPA
A man holds part of a missile in Yahidne. EPA
A resident clears up a house that was occupied by Russian soldiers in Yahidne. EPA
A resident clears up a house that was occupied by Russian soldiers in Yahidne. EPA
Local youth Vladyslav, 17, inspects the basement of the school building in Yahidne. EPA
Local youth Vladyslav, 17, inspects the basement of the school building in Yahidne. EPA
A local resident walks on the street in Yahidne. EPA
A local resident walks on the street in Yahidne. EPA
Local residents speak on the street next to war ruins. EPA
Local residents speak on the street next to war ruins. EPA
A destroyed garage in Ivanivka. EPA
A destroyed garage in Ivanivka. EPA
A man looks at bombs that litter a field in Ivanivka. EPA
A man looks at bombs that litter a field in Ivanivka. EPA
Natalia and her daughter climb a ladder, passing over a destroyed bridge in Kyiv. EPA
Natalia and her daughter climb a ladder, passing over a destroyed bridge in Kyiv. EPA

Before the announcement, Mr Biden hosted Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the White House, who became the highest-ranking Ukrainian official to visit the US since the February 24 invasion.

Thursday's $800m package brings the total amount of security assistance to Ukraine to roughly $3.4 billion since the beginning of the invasion, the Pentagon said.

Mr Biden also pledged an additional $500m in economic aid to Ukraine to stabilise their economy and support their communities.

He also called on Congress to authorise further assistance to Ukraine, saying the $13.6bn it approved earlier this year is "almost exhausted".

The supplement request will be sent to Congress next week. Mr Biden said his administration is still deciding how much money he will ask for.

New polling shows that a majority of Americans believe the president has not shown enough strength in response to Russian aggression.

Fifty-four per cent of Americans think Mr Biden's response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is "not tough enough", an AP-NORC poll showed. Thirty-six per cent think his approach has been about right, while 8 per cent say he’s been too tough.

Additional reporting by Joyce Karam and agencies

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Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
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If you go

The flights

There are direct flights from Dubai to Sofia with FlyDubai (www.flydubai.com) and Wizz Air (www.wizzair.com), from Dh1,164 and Dh822 return including taxes, respectively.

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Plovdiv is 150km from Sofia, with an hourly bus service taking around 2 hours and costing $16 (Dh58). The Rhodopes can be reached from Sofia in between 2-4hours.

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Updated: April 21, 2022, 4:18 PM`
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