[ad_1]
The president also recently approved additional lethal aid of $ 125 million to Ukraine to defend its borders with Russia, including two armed patrol boats and counter-artillery radar. The United States has committed more than $ 2 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2014, including providing Javelin anti-tank missiles. While the Obama administration sent military materiel to Ukraine, the deadly aid only came under the Trump administration.
Biden has a long history of advocating for support for Ukraine, particularly after Russia’s 2014 invasion of Crimea. As the Obama administration’s vice president and principal envoy to Kiev, Biden’s visited the country six times and spent hours on the phone with its leaders.
He has also spearheaded efforts to send US forces to train Ukrainian fighters and instigated senior officials to root out corruption, his advisers told POLITICO in an interview last year.
Pentagon response: Pentagon leaders express concerns to NATO allies over the resumption of fighting in Eastern Europe, which killed four Ukrainian soldiers on March 26 and injured two others, as well as the build-up of Russian forces, a spokesman John Kirby said Wednesday.
“We obviously don’t want to see any more violations of Ukrainian territory,” Kirby said. “We have been very clear about the threats we see from Russia in all areas … we take them very seriously.”
Kirby said he was not aware of any interaction between the Russians and US forces in Eastern Europe.
General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, discussed the security situation by telephone with his Russian and Ukrainian counterparts separately on Wednesday, according to a statement from his office. Also on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he discussed “ways to strengthen security cooperation” with State Secretary Antony Blinken.
“I made a productive and focused call with @SecBlinken as Russia continues to systematically worsen the security situation in eastern Ukraine and Crimea, “Kuleba tweeted.
Earlier in the week, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan “affirmed the unwavering support of the United States” for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart, said Kirby said.
[ad_2]
Source link