Ukraine Aid: Joe Biden Announces U.S. Allotting Additional $1 Billion for Ukraine

U.S. President Joe Biden has announced a new wave of Ukraine aid, saying he intends to send another $1 billion dollars in military support to the country after Ukraine's leaders asked for more ammunition to help fight off the Russian invasion.

Daily Mail reported that the latest Ukraine aid package will include anti-ship missile systems, artillery rockets, and round for howitzers, according to people familiar with the packages.

The U.S. has now delivered more than $5.5 billion of military support since Russia invaded more than 110 days ago.

Biden said in a statement that he informed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that the U.S. is providing another $1 billion in security assistance for the country, which includes additional artillery and coastal defense weapons.

There will also be ammunition for the artillery and advanced rocket systems that the Ukrainians need to support their defensive operations in the Donbas.

Ukraine Aid Package From U.S.

The United States has previously sent rocket systems to the country while stressing that it will not provide weapons that can reach targets inside Russia.

Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that he was grateful for the new American arms package, according to an Al Jazeera News report.

The Ukrainian president said in an evening address that the U.S. has announced a new strengthening to their defense, adding that he is grateful for the new $1 billion support.

The latest weapons packages for Ukraine include 18 howitzers, 36,000 rounds of ammunition for them, two Harpoon coastal defense systems, artillery rockets, and secure radios.

There will also be thousands of night vision devices and funding for training, according to the Pentagon.

Some will be from Pentagon stockpiles while another package will be paid by the congressional Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.

The White House noted that Biden and Zelenskyy spoke to each other for 41 minutes.

Western officials noted that the war has reached a critical stage that could determine the eventual outcome.

Russia-Ukraine Crisis

Ukraine has ignored a Russian call to surrender the eastern city of Sievierodonetsk after Russia told Ukrainian forces sheltering in a chemical plant in the ruined Donbas city to stop "senseless resistance and lay down arms."

Independent noted that more than 500 civilians, including 40 children, remained alongside soldiers inside the Azot chemical works as the Russian bombardment of the surrounding city continued.

Zelenskyy has also urged Brussels to let his country start on the road to membership in the European Union, warning that Russia's territorial ambitions stretched from Warsaw to Sofia.

However, the Ukrainian president did not provide evidence for the claim.

Zelenskyy also called for more European Union sanctions against Russia in a streamed speech to the Czech parliament.

Most of the Ukrainian defenders that had been holed up for months in the Azovstal steel plant are now in the Russian-occupied territory of Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the White House is advising Americans not to travel to Ukraine after reports emerged that Russian forces had captured two U.S. nationals that were fighting with Ukrainians.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Pentagon officials announce additional $1 billion in military aid to Ukraine - from CBS News