Biden announces new military aid package to Ukraine at meeting with Zelenski

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced on Sunday additional 375 million dollars in military aid to Ukraine during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zelenski, in the Japanese city of Hiroshima on the sidelines of the G7.

Biden has not specified the amount of the aid, but a senior U.S. official has assured that the assistance package is valued at 375 million dollars and includes weapons that the United States has already shipped to Ukraine, such as artillery, ammunition, armored vehicles, and high-mobility artillery rockets. (Himars).

“We are continuing to help Ukraine to defend, respond and recover. We are also assisting in their quest for a just peace. There is one aspect, which is the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, that is non-negotiable,” the U.S. leader has stated.

Zelenski then thanked him for the new military aid and for standing by his side, “shoulder to shoulder.”to confront the Russian invasion of Ukraine that began in February 2022.

The two leaders met at the luxurious Grand Prince Hotel on the island of Ujina, the headquarters of the G7 summit which ends this Sunday after three days of meetings.

Since the beginning of the war, the United States has handed over to Ukraine. $36.9 billion in military assistance, according to Pentagon data.

Four meetings with Biden

This Sunday’s was the fourth bilateral meeting between the two leaders since Biden came to the White House in January 2021.

The first two were at the White House: one in. September 2021 before the war started and the second one was in December 2022in what was Zelenski’s first foreign visit since the Russian invasion began in February last year.

The third meeting was in Kievwhere Biden made a surprise visit prior to a visit to Poland and on the anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion.

At this Sunday’s meeting, Biden recalled the moment when the anti-aircraft sirens began to be heard. in Kiev when he was visiting and how he looked at Zelenski, who did not seem worried.

“If he was not concerned about the sirens, well, neither am I,” joked Biden, who drew laughter from those in the room.

Zelenski at the G7

Zelenski arrived Saturday in the Japanese city of Hiroshima to participate in the G7 summit. His visit has a twofold objective: to gain greater military support from the West for the war and to engage in talks with countries like Brazil and Indiawhich have refused to align themselves with the West in condemning the invasion and continue to trade with Russia.

Before arriving in Japan, Zelenski had already scored several victories by getting the G7 to announce a round of sanctions against Russia and get Biden to change his mind about the U.S.-made F-16 fighters that Kiev had been demanding for months.

Specifically, Biden told his G7 partners that the US. will help train Ukrainian pilots. in operating F-16s and opened the door to delivering those aircraft to Ukraine in the future.

Prior to the start of this Sunday’s meeting, the heads of the Group of Seven posed for the cameras together with Zelenskiwho stood between Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and U.S. President Joe Biden, and in front of the flags of this group of countries, which were joined by the Ukrainian flag.

After the posing, Biden approached Zelenski e exchanged words with him while putting his hand on his shoulder, and it was also possible to see how the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, had a friendly conversation with the Kiev leader.

During the G7 leaders’ meeting, Zelenski has called for. more support from democratic countries around the world in the face of the Russian invasion.

“Together with all of our allies and partners, we have achieved such a level of cooperation which ensures that democracy, international law and freedom are respected,” Zelenski said in a message distributed on social networks after attending the meetings that concluded Sunday in Hiroshima, Japan.

“There have been attempts to ignore what we value. But now that is impossible. Our power is growing“, pointed out Zelenski, who added that “anyone who carries out aggression against a democratic country has seen what response they will encounter”.

He added, however, that “democracy needs more,” and in particular called for “a clear global leadership of democracy“.

Zelenski has also presented during the meetings. his peace plan “which guarantees each of the points that are supported by United Nations resolutions,” and in a way “that everyone in the world can choose the path they are going to follow.”

This program is finding support “from Japan to the Arab countriesfrom Europe to Latin America,” he said.