President Biden directs an additional $800 million in military aid to Ukraine

President Joe Biden said on Wednesday that the United States would send $800 million in additional military assistance to Ukraine.

Thos announcement came shortly after the country’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, delivered a virtual address to Congress in which he appealed for further assistance in fighting off Russian troops from major cities.

Zelenskyy specifically asked the United States to “close the sky” over Ukraine to protect civilians who are being slaughtered by Russian airstrikes. The Biden administration has opposed the move, with the president saying it would kick off “World War III.”

The U.S. will directly transfer the following equipment to the Ukrainian military as part of the latest package, according to a White House fact sheet:

• 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems
• 2,000 Javelin anti-armor missiles
• 1,000 light anti-armor weapons
• 6,000 AT-4 anti-armor systems
• 100 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems (armed drones)
• 7,000 small arms for both military and civilian use (100 grenade launchers, 5,000 rifles, 1,000 pistols, 400 machine guns and 400 shotguns)
• Over 20 million rounds of ammunition
• 25,000 sets of body armor
• 25,000 helmets

“We’re going to give Ukraine the arms to fight and defend themselves through all the difficult days ahead,” Biden pledged on Wednesday.

“Now, I want to be honest with you. This could be a long and difficult battle. But the American people will be steadfast in our support and the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin’s immoral, unethical attacks on civilian populations,” he continued.

“We’re united in our abhorrence of Putin’s depraved onslaught and we’re going to continue to have their backs as they fight for freedom, democracy, their very survival.”