In its latest bid to corner Russia in the war against Ukraine, the US administration led by President Joe Biden has announced to authorise an additional $200 million for arms and equipment to Ukraine.
“Today, President Biden authorized $200 million for additional arms and equipment to Ukraine. This unprecedented fourth drawdown in less than one year brings the total US security assistance to Ukraine to over $1.2 billion since January 2021,” the White House said in a Tweet.
Biden’s decision brings total US security aid provided to Ukraine to $1.2 billion since January 2021. Meanwhile, Secretary of State Antony Blinken tweeted: “I have authorized a drawdown of up to $200 million for additional arms and equipment to Ukraine. This unprecedented fourth drawdown in less than a year will bring total US security assistance provided to Ukraine to more than $1.2 billion since January 2021.”
According to reports, the $200 million drawdowns will be ‘immediate military assistance to Ukraine’. “Which will include anti-armour, anti-aircraft systems, and small arms in support of Ukraine’s front line defenders facing down Russia’s unprovoked attack,” the White House said.
Earlier Ukraine claimed that Russian forces fired at a convoy that was evacuating women and children in the Kyiv region, killing seven people including one child.
“Russians shot at a column of women and children in Kyiv region, who were trying to evacuate along a previously agreed ‘green’ corridor. The result of this brutal act – seven dead. One of them is a child,” the Ukrainian defence ministry said in a Tweet. Media outlet The Kyiv Independent reported that the attack took place on March 11 as a column of women and children was leaving the village Peremoha in Kyiv Oblast, using the approved corridor.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russian forces of targeting a humanitarian corridor. Ukrainian President’s aide Mykhailo Podolyak said that the negotiations with the Russian delegation are underway in a continuous video format.
Among the top priorities of the talks is expanding and setting up humanitarian corridors, especially for the city of Mariupol, according to the state-run media. However, the delegations met in person three times, with no conclusive results. The last meeting on the Russia Ukraine war took place on March 7.
