U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday approved sending a new $400 million defense aid package to Ukraine in the midst of Russia’s invasion, which began nine months ago.
«By the authority vested in me as President (…) I delegate to the Secretary of State the authority (…) to order an appropriation of up to $400 million in Department of Defense defense articles and services, as well as military education and training, to provide assistance to Ukraine,» he said in a White House statement.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine dates back to February 24, when Russian President Vladimir Putin gave the green light to what Moscow has since dubbed a «special operation» to «denazify and demilitarize» Ukraine.
Numerous countries have condemned the invasion and have supported Kiev by sending arms, supplies and humanitarian assistance, as well as imposing sanctions against the Kremlin and its partners.
Russia, however, has repeatedly warned NATO countries that they are «playing with fire» by supplying arms to Kiev and has stressed that convoys carrying these weapons are a «legitimate target» of the Russian army once they cross the border.