US President Joe Biden and his Russian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on Friday and announced a new circular of military support for Kyiv, according to the White House.
The two leaders ‘ calls came in advance of Ukraine’s independence day and the moment Washington announced harsh sanctions against numerous individuals and businesses tied to Russia’s invasion of the state.
Without giving a specific dollar amount, Biden said in a statement,” I am glad we did announce a new bundle of military help for Ukraine today.”
” The deal includes weather protection missiles to defend Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, counter-drone equipment and anti-armor missiles to defend against Russia’s changing tactics on the battlefield, and ammunition for frontline soldiers and the smart rocket systems that protect them”, he said.
” Russia does not succeed in this conflict. The separate people of Ukraine will succeed– and the United States, our friends, and our companions, may continue to stand with them every step of the way”, Biden added.
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States has been a major military supporter of Ukraine, contributing more than$ 55 billion in weapons, ammunition, and other security assistance.
The most serious harm by a foreign military on Russian place since World War II is being launched by Russian troops into Russia’s northern Kursk region.
New sanctions on Russia
The US Treasury, State, and Commerce agencies announced new sanctions earlier on Friday that would expand existing sanctions against Russia following the invasion.
The US Treasury Department announced in a statement that the punishment target nearly 400 people and organizations both inside and outside of Russia, whose goods and services enable Russia to maintain its war efforts and evade punishment.
Among those sanctioned were 60 Russia-based defence and technology businesses” essential for the sustainment and growth of Russia’s defense business”, it added.
In a separate declaration, the state department claimed that Treasury was in charge of nearly 200 of the restrictions and that it was in charge of 190 of them.
It further stated that its classifications “aim to destroy sanctions dodging and specific entities in several third countries, including China, along with businesses supporting the development of Russian power projects.”
Alongside the punishment unveiled Friday, the Commerce Department announced it was taking “aggressive activity” to further restrict the supply of goods made in the United States, or labeled as such, to both Russia and Belarus, expected to” the Kremlin’s improper battle on Ukraine”.
The department said in a statement that today’s actions will further limit Russia’s ability to bolster its military by focusing on illicit procurement networks used to evade global export controls.
