President Biden on Wednesday discussed U.S. support for Ukraine in its defense against Russian aggression during a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and announced a new $425 million military aid package.
Included in the package are additional air defense capabilities, air-to-ground munitions, armored vehicles and munitions, the White House said in a readout of the president’s call.
“President Zelenskyy updated President Biden on his plan to achieve victory over Russia, and the two leaders tasked their teams to engage in further consultations on next steps,” the statement read.
The call follows Zelensky publicly detailing in Kyiv his plan for Ukraine’s victory against Russia in the more than two-year war, saying international support through military assistance, intelligence sharing and political commitments are key to ending the war “no later than next year.”
Biden, in his call with the Ukrainian leader, discussed how the U.S. will provide a range of additional military capabilities over the coming months, according to the White House. In September, Biden announced he would distribute $8 billion in assistance to Ukraine before the end of his presidential term in January.
The president was forced to announce the multibillion-dollar aid package all at once after Congress failed to take up his request to provide an extension to a Sept. 30 deadline on the use of the funds.