White House gives Ukraine $800 million in defense aid hours after Zelensky’s plea to Congress

President Biden pledged another $800 million to Ukraine for defense aid against the Russian invasion, just hours after Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky met with both houses of the US Congress to plead with them for more help.

The Ukrainian leader spoke via video chat from an undisclosed location in Kyiv for almost an hour, and ended his address by speaking directly to President Biden.

“You are the leader of the nation, of your great nation,” Zelensky said. “I wish you to be the leader of the world. Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.”

Hours later, the US president addressed the nation and announced the White House will send $800 million in additional aid to Ukraine.

According to Biden, the new aid package includes 800 anti-aircraft systems, 9,000 shoulder-mounted anti-armor missile systems to destroy tanks, 7,000 small arms, including guns and grenade launchers, and 20 million rounds of ammunition, and drones. 

The Ukrainian leader continues to ask for a no-fly zone over Ukraine in order to better defend the country against Russian airstrikes, but western governments consistently decline the measure, saying it would escalate the conflict and involve NATO directly.