Biden gives Ukraine $200 million in arms and military aid
US President Joe Biden on Saturday agreed to give Ukraine $200 million in weapons and other military aid, the White House said, as Ukrainian officials said heavy bombardment by Russian forces was jeopardizing evacuation attempts.
A senior US administration official said that with this decision, the total US security assistance provided to Ukraine over the past year has reached $1.2 billion.
In a memo to Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, Biden directed that up to $200 million be allocated through the Foreign Assistance Act to Ukraine's defense sector.
The funds could be used for weapons or other defense items from the Defense Ministry's inventory, as well as providing military education and training to help Ukraine.
The new aid comes days after the US Congress approved $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine as part of a $1.5 trillion program to fund the US government through September.
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