President Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. will send $500 million in more aid to his embattled country as Russia steps up attacks on its neighbor.
In a 56-minute telephone call, Biden told Zelenskyy that the U.S. is “working around the clock” to deliver aid to Ukraine as it seeks to repel the Russian invasion.
“Biden spoke today with President Zelenskyy of Ukraine about the ongoing work by the United States and its allies and partners to deliver military, economic, and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine and to impose severe costs on Russia for its brutal aggression against Ukraine,” the White House said in a statement.
Biden also updated the Ukrainian president on the ongoing effort to ramp up sanctions against Russia and to impose higher costs on Russian strongman Vladimir Putin for the ongoing invasion.
Russia has recently claimed that it plans to withdraw from areas near Kyiv and other cities in the north of Ukraine.
But Ukraine authorities say the invaders actually stepped up attacks in those areas, suggesting the claims could be an effort to buy some time to regroup.
Zelenskyy updated Biden on the ongoing peace talks, which have made some modest progress recently.
Ukraine has suggested it’s open to meeting Russian demands that it declare official neutrality and foreswear NATO membership. Zelenskyy also says he’s willing to negotiate the future of Crimea and two breakaway Russian-speaking provinces.
The two leaders have spoken regularly in recent weeks and say they have a cordial relationship. Zelenskyy has occasionally criticized Western allies for not imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine or getting more directly involved in the conflict.
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