Responding to a request from President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken revealed on Saturday that he had approved $200 million in military aid for Ukraine, The Hill reports.
Blinken added that the new funding would take the entire amount of US security aid to Ukraine since January 2021 to $1.2 billion, calling the fourth reduction in less than a year “unique” in a tweet.
Biden authorized Blinken to send the defense aid earlier on Saturday, saying the monies may be used for military training and other “help to Ukraine and to make the assessments needed.”
This comes after Congress passed a large federal budget package on Thursday, which includes $13.6 billion in Ukraine-related aid.
“We salute the armed forces of Ukraine and all Ukrainian citizens who are defending their country with great skill, iron will, and profound courage. America and its Allies support their efforts to defend their country and protect their fellow citizens, and urge Russia to recognize that force will never defeat Ukraine’s spirit. We are committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs,” Blinken said in an official statement published by the State Department.
The United States and its allies have condemned Russia’s assault of Ukraine, which is now in its third week, and have imposed a successive string of sanctions on Moscow.
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