Biden Apologizes to Zelensky for Delay in U.S. Aid
to Ukraine
U.S. President Joe Biden apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the delay in providing Ukraine with military aid, the White House said in a statement on Friday.
“President Biden apologized for the delay in the delivery of the aid package and assured President Zelensky that the United States remains committed to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement said.
The White House said that Biden and Zelensky discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine, where the Ukrainian government has been fighting against the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics (DPR and LPR) since 2014.
“The leaders discussed the importance of maintaining pressure on Russia to fully implement its commitments under the Minsk agreements, including the withdrawal of Russian-led forces and weapons from Ukraine,” the statement said.
The White House also said that Biden and Zelensky discussed the need to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities and the importance of Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
The United States has been providing military aid to Ukraine since 2014, including lethal weapons such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles. The latest aid package, which was announced in December, includes $200 million in security assistance, including Javelin missiles and other equipment.
However, the delivery of the aid package has been delayed due to a hold placed on it by a group of Republican senators, who are pushing for a review of U.S. policy towards Ukraine. The hold was lifted on Thursday, and the aid package is expected to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks.
The delay in the delivery of the aid package has been criticized by Ukrainian officials, who have expressed concern about the security situation in eastern Ukraine and the need for military assistance to defend against Russian-led forces.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday that the delay in the delivery of the aid package was “unacceptable” and called on the United States to expedite the delivery of the aid.