Biden announces surge in Ukraine military aid ahead of Zelensky visit
The announcement came as Russia waved the nuclear threat, and amid a blazing row between Zelensky and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that underscored how the knife-edge US election could soon upend support for Kyiv in its fight against Moscow's invasion.
FILE: US President Joe Biden speaks about the Special Counsel report in the Diplomatic Reception Room of the White House in Washington, DC, on 8 February 2024 in a surprise last-minute addition to his schedule for the day. Picture: Mandel NGAN / AFP
WASHINGTON - US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday a "surge" in assistance to Ukraine, including nearly $8 billion in military aid and new long-range munitions, ahead of a White House meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
The announcement came as Russia waved the nuclear threat, and amid a blazing row between Zelensky and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that underscored how the knife-edge US election could soon upend support for Kyiv in its fight against Moscow's invasion.
"Today, I am announcing a surge in security assistance for Ukraine and a series of additional actions to help Ukraine win this war," Biden said in a statement.
However, the statement did not mention Kyiv's hoped-for permission to launch US-made long-range missiles into Russia -- which Zelensky has been pushing hard for, and which Biden has so far refused.
Russia has strongly warned against such a step, and President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday announced plans to broaden Moscow's rules on the use of its nuclear weaponry, allowing it to unleash a nuclear response in the event of a "massive" air attack.
The Kremlin said the updated doctrine should be seen as a warning to the West.
'NUCLEAR SABER'
Moscow's statement prompted swift condemnation from Western capitals.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called the nuclear threat "totally irresponsible."
"I think many in the world have spoken clearly about that when he's been rattling the nuclear saber, including China in the past," Blinken said in an interview with MSNBC.
In Brussels, EU foreign policy spokesman Peter Stano said "Putin is playing (a) gamble with his nuclear arsenal" and added that the 27-nation bloc "strongly reject(s) these threats."
Kyiv has relied on the United States as its main military backer, and Zelensky said his country would use the new assistance in the "most effective and transparent way possible to achieve our main common goal: a victorious Ukraine, a just and lasting peace, and transatlantic security."
But the white-knuckle US vote on November 5, pitting Biden's Vice President Kamala Harris against firebrand Trump, means that support may now hang in the balance.
Trump had also been due to meet Zelensky during his US visit, but their talks now appear to be on ice.
The Republican accused Zelensky on the eve of the visit of refusing to strike a deal with Moscow and once again questioned why the United States was giving billions of dollars to Kyiv.
Biden will host Zelensky in the Oval Office at 1:45 pm local time (1745 GMT), the White House said. The Ukrainian leader and Harris will deliver remarks at 3:05 pm before their meeting in the vice president's office.
Zelensky also visited the US Congress and gave a defiant address at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday.
The Ukrainian has for several weeks touted the so-called "victory plan" he will present to Biden, but has given no details of his proposals to end the war, which is now in its third year.
Biden, in his last months in office, also said he would convene a high-level meeting of Ukraine allies in Germany in October.
'GREATEST SALESMAN'
Biden pledged nearly $8 billion in military aid, including $5.5 billion to be authorized before it expires at the end of the US fiscal year on Monday.
With Trump threatening to cut aid to Ukraine if elected, Biden intends to allocate the funds before he leaves office under a presidential drawdown clause to ensure a continuous flow of funding regardless of who wins the White House.
Another $2.4 billion was pledged via the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), meaning it will not immediately arrive on the battlefield, as the munitions need to be procured from the defense industry or partners, rather than drawn from US stockpiles.
Biden also announced Washington would provide Ukraine with the Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) long-range munition, "to enhance Ukraine's long-range strike capabilities."
The United States has provided around $175 billion in both military and economic assistance to Ukraine during the war, despite frequent opposition from Republicans.
Trump has echoed many of Putin's talking points about previous US policy being to blame for the Russian invasion, and has been critical of Zelensky for years.
At an election rally on Wednesday, the Republican called the Ukrainian president "probably the greatest salesman on Earth."
"We continue to give billions of dollars to a man who refuses to make a deal, Zelensky," he said.
Trump has claimed that he could arrange a peace deal within 24 hours if elected, but Kyiv fears it would involve ceding swathes of territory seized by Russia.