President Joe Biden on Friday issued a public apology to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for the prolonged delay in American military aid that allowed Russia to make battlefield advances.
During a speech in Paris, where both leaders were present to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings, Biden expressed regret to Zelenskyy and the Ukrainian people for the uncertainty caused by the delay. The U.S. Congress had taken six months to approve a $61 billion military aid package for Ukraine.
“I apologize for those weeks of not knowing what’s going to happen in terms of funding,” Biden said.
Despite the delay, President Biden reaffirmed America's steadfast support for Ukraine. “We’re still in. Completely. Thoroughly,” he emphasized.
The United States remains the largest provider of military aid to Ukraine, which is currently facing a fierce Russian offensive in its eastern regions. The Russian push is concentrated in the Kharkiv and Donetsk border areas but has the potential to expand as Russia leverages its larger military forces.
Ukraine has been struggling with shortages of ammunition and troops along the extensive 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, a situation exacerbated by the six-month delay in U.S. military aid. Biden eventually signed the $61 billion aid package into law in April.
This delay in Western weapon deliveries has been a source of frustration for Zelenskyy. Additionally, Biden's cautious approach to supplying more hardware, due to concerns about provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin, has strained their relationship.
On Thursday, U.S. officials announced that the United States would send approximately $225 million in new military aid to Ukraine. This latest package includes munitions for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS), mortar systems, and various artillery rounds.
Amid Russia's intensified attacks and Ukraine's struggling defenses, some NATO allies, including the U.S., have recently agreed to allow Ukraine to use the delivered weapons for limited strikes inside Russia.
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