US Begins Arming Ukraine; Biden Claims China and Iran Are Aiding Russia

Washington: President Joe Biden said that China, Iran, and North Korea were aiding Moscow in this conflict. As a result, the US began supplying Ukraine with much-needed weapons and ammunition on Wednesday to assist it repel the Russian invasion.

“Friends of Russian President Vladimir Putin are making sure he has enough supplies.” He received drones from Iran. He received artillery munitions and ballistic missiles from North Korea. As he signed the National Security Supplemental USD 95.3 billion assistance package to Ukraine and Israel and to bolster the security of America and its allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Taiwan, Biden said, “China is providing components and know-how to boost Russia’s defense production.”

With all of this backing, Russia has increased the number of bombings it has carried out on Ukrainian towns and vital infrastructure, and it has showered weapons on the valiant Ukrainians who are defending their country. And today, America will provide Ukraine with the resources it needs to continue fighting,” said Biden.

A few hours later, the US began airlifting and delivering artillery, rocket systems, armored vehicles, and air defense weapons to Ukraine. “This package is literally an investment not only in Ukraine’s security but in Europe’s security, in our own security,” Biden said.

“We are shipping equipment from our own inventories to Ukraine. Next, we’ll add fresh goods produced domestically by American businesses to those inventories. Arizona produced Patriot missiles, Alabama produced Javelins, while Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Texas produced artillery ammunition. Put another way, we are assisting Ukraine while also bolstering our own industrial base, enhancing national security, and sustaining employment in close to 40 states throughout the United States,” the president said.

Tony Blinken, the secretary of state, unveiled a fresh supply of arms and gear for Ukraine. “This package, which is valued at up to USD 1 billion, includes urgently-needed capabilities, including air defence missiles, munitions for HIMARS, artillery rounds, armoured vehicles, precision aerial munitions, anti-armour weapons, and small arms, equipment and spare parts to help Ukraine defend its territory and protect its people,” he stated.

“By supporting Ukraine in its struggle against Russian aggression, we are sending a strong statement about the strength of American leadership today. In order to provide Ukraine’s military vital assistance, the United States will keep collaborating with the coalition of more than 50 nations that we have brought together, Blinken said in a statement.

According to the Pentagon, this package will push more ammunition, weaponry, and equipment forward to help Ukraine defend its cities, its front lines, and it will fight off ongoing Russian strikes.

“With the bipartisan support of Congress, Ukraine can count on strong and resolute US leadership to provide consistent security assistance support — together with some 50 allies and partners — to ensure its brave defenders receive the critical capabilities needed to fight Russian aggression,” the Pentagon stated.

Biden issued a warning, stating that if Putin wins in Ukraine, there’s a good chance that Russian troops would strike a NATO partner directly. Article five of the North Atlantic Treaty, which states that an assault on one person is an attack on all, is the first thing that would spring to mind, as you are all well aware. In the same way that our NATO partners rescued us during the September 11 attacks here in 2001, we would be forced to defend them if Putin attacked a NATO member the way he is attacking Ukraine today,” the speaker said.

“To prevent Putin from entangling the United States in a conflict in Europe or the future, that is why we are backing and increasing our assistance for Ukraine right now. I think it’s important for us to take a step back and see how crucial this was for both NATO and the United States. It’s a historic time,” Biden said.

In an interview with Fox News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to the United States for the USD 61 billion in help. “61 billion hopes were raised throughout the six-month wait for this decision. I wanted to convey that I am grateful to the people of America. This is not the first time I feel grateful. And I hope that as a consequence of their assistance, you and the Americans will become determined to defend Ukraine and Ukrainians,” he said.