The US has pledged an additional $800 million (about $736 million) in military aid to besieged Ukraine. Artillery systems and ammunition, as well as armored vehicles, among other things, will be delivered to Kiev, US President Joe Biden said Wednesday afternoon after a telephone conversation with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Washington. Biden justified the deliveries with the expected Russian offensive in the Donbass.
The goal is to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to defend itself, Biden said. Talks between the two presidents lasted about an hour, the White House said. Zelenskyi wrote on Twitter that the two were talking about Russian war crimes and an additional package of military and financial aid. Agreement had also been reached on a tightening of sanctions against Russia. In view of Russia’s expected large-scale offensive in eastern Ukraine, the European Union had previously decided to spend an additional 500 million euros on arms supplies to Kiev.
Zelenskyj asked for heavy artillery
In this regard, Zelenskyj went on the offensive in a video message on Wednesday, naming specific types of weapons his country needed. “We urgently need heavy artillery, heavy armored vehicles, air defense systems and aircraft,” the 44-year-old said in a video message distributed in English on Wednesday. He listed artillery systems with a NATO caliber of 155 millimeters.
“As much as possible” artillery ammunition of the Soviet caliber of 152 millimeters is needed. Kiev needs Soviet Grad (hail), Smerch (hurricane) or American M142 HIMARS multiple rocket launchers. He also mentioned Soviet tanks of the T-72 type – “or similar American or German”. The list was then followed by Soviet-made S-300 or BUK (beech) anti-aircraft systems – “or equivalent modern western anti-aircraft systems”. The head of state concluded his message by saying: “Now arm Ukraine to defend freedom.”
France also announces delivery
French Defense Minister Florence Parly announced after talks with her Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov that Paris would continue to supply weapons. France has already supplied military equipment to Ukraine worth 100 million euros. In response to Ukrainian requests, she promised Reznikov that France would provide additional military capacity, in addition to the supplied equipment worth 100 million euros.
Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary James Heappey called on Berlin to sell heavy weapons to Ukraine. “If the transition to conventional warfare comes in the open field, they will need armored vehicles and fighter jets,” the Conservative Party politician told Welt (Online). For the next phase of the war, he demanded the delivery of precision guns to Ukraine, as well as heavy weapons.
push for more sanctions
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy urged the EU to tighten sanctions against Russia. The EU should add an import ban on Russian oil to its new sanctions package, he said in a video message to the Estonian parliament. A European embargo is needed. “If Europe is wasting time, Russia will use it to expand the war zone to other countries,” Zelenskyy said. Sanctions are the only instrument that can force Russia to make peace. “We can stop Russia — or lose all of Eastern Europe for a very long time,” said Selenskyj, again raising serious charges against the war opponent. For example, Russia used phosphorus bombs during the war, the president spoke of “terror against the civilian population”.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
