Biden Announces New Military Aid for Ukraine During Meeting With Zelenskyy

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (L) and U.S. President Joe Biden take part in a bilateral meeting during the G-7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 21, 2023. (Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images)

HIROSHIMA, Japan—President Joe Biden announced a new $375 million package of military aid to Ukraine during a May 21 meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the G-7 leaders summit in Hiroshima, Japan.

“The United States continues to help Ukraine respond, recover, and rebuild. We are also supporting peace,” Biden said during his first face-to-face meeting with Zelenskyy since making a surprise visit to Kyiv in February.

The additional U.S. security assistance marks the 38th drawdown of U.S. arms and equipment for Ukraine, which continues its fight against Russia since Moscow invaded in February 2022, according to the U.S. State Department.

The United States “will continue to stand with our Ukrainian partners as they defend themselves from Russia’s war of aggression,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

“This security assistance package includes additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, armored medical treatment vehicles, trucks, and trailers to transport heavy equipment, spare parts, and other field equipment essential to strengthening Ukraine’s defenders on the battlefield,” Blinken said.

“Russia could end its war today. Until Russia does, the United States and our allies and partners will stand united with Ukraine, for as long as it takes.”

The new aid comes after Pentagon officials said it made an accounting mistake that overestimated the value of military aid sent to Ukraine by at least $3 billion. Up until Biden’s latest announcement, the United States had committed more than $37.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine, per an updated fact sheet (pdf).

Bakhmut ‘Only in Our Hearts’

Before the meeting, Zelenskyy was asked by a reporter whether Russia had taken control of Bakhmut, a battlefield city in the eastern Donetsk region that a Russian commander recently claimed had been captured by Russians.

“I think no,” Zelenskyy said. “But you have to understand there is nothing. They’ve destroyed everything. There are no buildings.

“For today, Bakhmut is only in our hearts. There is nothing on this place.”

He thanked the “defenders” of Bakhmut, adding, “We appreciate them for their great job.”

Solidarity for Ukraine

On May 20, Biden told his G-7 counterparts the United States will support a joint effort to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft. As part of the decision, the United States will permit its Western allies to supply Ukraine with fighter jets, which include U.S.-made F-16s.

Biden previously ruled out the possibility of the United States providing Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets. While Ukraine has been pushing its allies for advanced warplanes to help defend its airspace, the United States and its partners had feared that could lead to further escalation with Russia.

Before Zelenskyy arrived in Hiroshima on May 20, G-7 nations had already unveiled new sanctions against Russia, as well as other measures intended to punish Russia and compromise its fighting abilities.

“Russia’s brutal war of aggression represents a threat to the whole world in breach of fundamental norms, rules, and principles of the international community. We reaffirm our unwavering support for Ukraine for as long as it takes to bring a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace,” the group said in a statement.

G-7 countries are the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Canada, and Italy. Besides Ukraine, the G-7 countries also discussed climate change, artificial intelligence, poverty, economic instability, and nuclear disarmament.

Another major focus of the meetings was China, amid increasing anxiety that the Chinese regime could try to seize Taiwan by force, a scenario that would spark a wider conflict.

The G-7 said they didn’t want to harm China and were seeking “constructive and stable relations” with Beijing, “recognizing the importance of engaging candidly with and expressing our concerns directly to China.”

They also urged China to pressure Russia to end the war in Ukraine and “support a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace.”

China has indicated it opposes the G-7’s joint statement and has complained to summit organizer Japan, the Chinese foreign ministry said on May 20.

Aldgra Fredly and The Associated Press contributed to this report.