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Russia's President Vladimir Putin says his country will continue its yearlong "special military operation" in Ukraine, and he accused the US-led NATO alliance of fanning the flames.

Russia-Ukraine conflict would have cost world economy $1.6 trillion in 2022, according to a study published by the German Economic Institute.

05:58 2024-03-19
Ukraine welcomes fresh military aid from EU
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba speaks during a meeting with Moldova's Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi in Kyiv, Ukraine March 13, 2024.[Photo/Agencies]

KYIV -- Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba welcomed the decision of the European Union (EU) to allocate an additional 5 billion euros (about $5.44 billion) for military support to Ukraine, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said Monday.

Speaking at the meeting of the EU Foreign Affairs Council, Kuleba said that the move to unlock the aid was an important step for Ukraine.

Kuleba also thanked the Czech Republic for its initiative to purchase artillery ammunition for Ukraine and appreciated the countries that have joined the initiative.

Earlier in the day, the Council of the EU allocated 5 billion euros (about $5.44 billion) for Ukraine under the European Peace Facility (EPF). The funds are due to be used for providing Ukraine with lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training.

Between 2022 and 2024, the European Union mobilized 6.1 billion euros (about $6.64 billion) for Ukraine under the EPF.

Last month, the Czech Republic proposed to EU countries to jointly purchase 800,000 artillery shells and send them to Ukraine.

05:42 2024-03-19
EU Council approves new aid fund for Ukraine

BRUSSELS -- The Council of the European Union (EU) approved the creation of the Ukraine Assistance Fund (UAF) here on Monday and earmarked 5 billion euros ($5.4 billion) for it.

The decision was reached at EU's Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels, where ministers discussed EU support for Ukraine and the situation in the Middle East.

UAF will allow the EU to further support the evolving needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces "through the provision of both lethal and non-lethal military equipment and training," the Council said.

Since the start of the Russia-Ukraine conflict in February 2022, the EU has given or committed over 138 billion euros in aid to Ukraine, of which 28 billion euros was military support. (1 euro = 1.09 US dollar)

23:21 2024-03-18
Ukraine approves reform plan for getting 50-bln-euro financing from EU

KYIV -- The Ukrainian government approved the Plan for the Ukraine Facility, which was required by the European Union (EU) to allocate 50 billion euros ($ 54.5 billion) in financing for Kiev in 2024-2027, the cabinet's press service reported Monday.

"The Plan for the Ukraine Facility provides for the implementation of structural reforms in the public sector, and the implementation of many economic reforms aimed at the development of the business climate and entrepreneurship," said a statement on the government's website.

Under the plan, Ukraine is to implement more than 150 indicators in 69 reform directions by 2027, it said.

According to the statement, Kiev is counting on receiving 4.5 billion euros ($4.9 billion) under the Ukraine Facility program this month and another 1.5 billion euros ($1.6 billion) in April.

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Telegram that his country will get 16 billion euros ($17.4 billion) from the EU this year if it implements the reforms under the approved plan.

16:30 2024-03-16
Russia says three US Patriot air defense complexes destroyed

MOSCOW -- Russia has neutralized three US Patriot air defense complexes in Ukraine in the past week, local media quoted the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying on Saturday.

According to Russia's RIA Novosti news agency, Ukraine's forces have sustained significant losses in equipment and personnel, said Alexey Kim, chief of staff of Russia's joint group of forces, reporting to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu in a meeting.

Over the last week, three American Patriot complexes, a Vampire multiple launch rocket system combat vehicle, more than 10 foreign-made artillery systems, and warehouses of fuel, lubricants and ammunition were destroyed, the ministry said in the report.

15:05 2024-03-16
China calls for peace talks over Ukraine crisis
Firefighters extinguish a fire in a building after a missile attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Feb 7, 2024. [Photo/Xinhua]

UNITED NATIONS -- A Chinese envoy on Friday called on the parties to the Ukraine crisis to start peace talks at an early date.

With the fighting still ongoing, the risk of spillover continues to emerge. One more day of conflict brings one more element of risk to the world. One day earlier for peace talks means one day sooner for peace. Peace is a matter of utmost urgency as well as a matter of public expectation, said Geng Shuang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations.

On the Ukraine issue, China has always maintained that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries should be respected, the purposes and principles of the UN Charter be upheld, the legitimate security concerns of all countries be taken seriously, and all efforts conducive to the political settlement of the crisis be supported, he told the Security Council.

"We reiterate our call on the parties to the conflict to demonstrate political will, meet each other halfway, build consensus, cease fighting, and start peace talks at an early date," said Geng. "We call on the international community to step up diplomatic efforts to create conditions for de-escalating the situation and achieving a political settlement."

China has always maintained an objective and impartial position and has participated in promoting peace talks. China supports the holding in due course of an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine and one that ensures the equal participation of all parties in full discussion of all peace plans, he said.

"China is ready to provide the necessary conditions for Russia and Ukraine to engage in negotiations, and will continue to play a constructive role in promoting a political solution to the crisis," Geng said.

10:39 2024-03-15
2 killed, 19 injured after Ukrainian attack in Russia's Belgorod
This handout photograph published on the official Telegram account of Belgorod mayor Valentin Demidov, on March 13, 2024, shows damage to an apartment building following a drone attack on Belgorod. AFP PHOTO / TELEGRAM ACCOUNT @v_v_demidov

MOSCOW -- Two people were killed and another 19 injured Thursday after Ukrainian attacks on Russia's Belgorod region, according to the region's Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.

Ukrainian attacks damaged a medical facility in Belgorod, as well as dozens of residences and vehicles, Gladkov said in his Telegram channel, adding that air defense system shot down 11 air targets over the day.

Ahead of Russia's presidential election scheduled between March 15 and 17, missile danger alerts have been declared repeatedly in Russia's Belgorod and Kursk regions.

Andrey Klimov, deputy chair of the federation council committee on foreign affairs, said Thursday that anti-Russian forces are using attacks on Russia to artificially increase pre-election tension.

13:34 2024-03-07
FM: China supports intl peace conference on Ukraine crisis
By Mo Jingxi

China supports holding an international peace conference that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine in due course, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday at a news conference during the second session of the 14th National People's Congress.

The conference should ensure the participation of all parties and fair discussions on all peace plans, he said.

"All conflicts have to end at the negotiating table. The earlier the talks start, the sooner peace will arrive," Wang said, noting that all of China's efforts point to the goal of paving the way for ending the conflict and starting peace talks.

Wang stressed that past experience shows that a conflict, when prolonged, tends to deteriorate and escalate, even to the extent unthinkable for parties concerned.

Misperception and miscalculation will accumulate and may lead to an even bigger crisis if peace talks are absent, he said.

"Lessons in this regard should not be forgotten," Wang said.

09:29 2024-03-05
Russia summons German diplomat over leaked tape
By REN QI in Moscow
The Russian flag flies on the dome of the Kremlin Senate building behind Spasskaya Tower, in central Moscow, Russia, May 4, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned the German ambassador on Monday, TASS news agency reported, after Russian media published an audio recording of Berlin's potential involvement in the conflict in Ukraine.

In the purported call released by Russia's RT broadcaster, German military officers were heard discussing weapons for Ukraine and a potential strike by Kyiv on a bridge in Crimea, prompting Russian officials to demand an explanation.

The Kremlin said on Monday that the content of a leaked conversation between German officials about potential strikes on Crimea proved Western countries were participating in the conflict in Ukraine.

"The recording itself suggests that the Bundeswehr is discussing substantively and specifically plans to strike Russian territory," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Peskov was speaking as the German ambassador to Russia was summoned to the foreign ministry in Moscow.

Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff left the ministry building without giving any comment, Russian news agencies reported.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council also said on Monday that Moscow would show restraint in response to the purported intercept of the German military discussing a strike on Russia, but would not forget about it.

He made the comments at a youth forum in southern Russia, the RIA news agency reported.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius earlier responded to the leak, describing it as part of Russia's "information war" against the West, and that it was aimed to create discord within Germany.

In the 38-minute recording, German military officers also discussed how the Taurus long-range cruise missiles could be used by Ukraine. It was said the audio was leaked as a debate had been taking place in Germany over whether to supply the missiles.

Pistorius told reporters on Sunday that the Bundeswehr officers did not discuss specific plans, but talked about hypothetical options, keeping in mind that Germany should not become part of the conflict in Ukraine.

He said the timing was not a coincidence.

"It is part of an information war …There is absolutely no doubt about that," he said. "It is a hybrid attack aimed at disinformation. It is about division. It is about undermining our resolve."

He also said it does not mean it is a green light to supply the weapons to Ukraine.

On Saturday, the German Defense Ministry confirmed the call had been wiretapped. Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged a prompt investigation into the situation.

Earlier last week, Scholz said he remains reluctant to send the Taurus missiles to Ukraine, pointing to a risk of Germany becoming directly involved in the conflict. His hesitancy is a source of friction in his three-party coalition and also annoyed Germany's conservative opposition.

NATO member Turkiye hopes talks for a cease-fire in Ukraine will start soon, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on Sunday after meeting his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.

Rail network targeted

But a truce seemed to be far away from happening as Ukraine said it blew up a railway bridge in Russia's southwestern Samara region on Monday because it was being used to transport "military cargo". It was the latest in a string of explosions targeting Russia's rail network.

Meanwhile, NATO was scheduled to kick off an exercise on Monday to defend its newly expanded Nordic territory, with more than 20,000 soldiers from 13 nations expected to take part in drills lasting nearly two weeks in the northern regions of Finland, Norway and Sweden.

With over 4,000 Finnish soldiers taking part, the Norway-led Nordic Response 2024 represents the NATO newcomer's largest-ever participation in a foreign exercise, Finland's military said.

Finland, which shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia, joined NATO in April in a historic move following decades of military nonalignment. With its bid now ratified by all NATO members, neighboring Sweden is currently finalizing formalities to enter the military alliance as its 32nd member — most likely in March.

Agencies contributed to this story.

06:35 2024-03-05
Ukraine says ready to extend gas transit from Russia at EU request

KIEV -- Ukraine stands ready to extend gas transit from Russia if there is a request from the European Union (EU) countries, the Interfax-Ukraine news agency reported Monday, citing Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal.

"If the European countries act as a consortium or one of the European partners will act as a transit country for their gas -- we are ready to provide such a service," Shmyhal told a press conference.

Ukraine can seal a deal on gas transit with the European Commission or a group of European countries that are interested in maintaining the transit, Shmyhal said.

He stressed that Ukraine will not extend the existing gas transit contract or sign a new contract with Russia.

Ukraine's state-run energy company Naftogaz and Russia's gas giant Gazprom signed a gas transportation agreement in December 2019. The contract envisages that Ukraine would transit 40 billion cubic meters of Russian gas per year during the 2021-2024 period.

Last year, Russia's gas transit via Ukraine was down by 28.4 percent to 14.6 million cubic meters.

09:36 2024-03-04
Europe support for Ukraine comes at a cost
By CHEN YINGQUN
Farmers block roads around the Arc de Triomphe, including the entry to Champs-Elysees, with tractors on Friday. REMON HAAZEN/GETTY IMAGES

European Union countries are continuing to show resolute support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, but protests by farmers across the continent have shown that more people are reluctant to continue sacrificing their own interests for the cause, analysts say.

Farmers across Europe have staged protests over the past few weeks against the EU's agricultural policies and food imports from Ukraine.

On Friday, French agricultural workers encircled the Arc de Triomphe in Paris with their tractors, staging a demonstration aimed at "saving French agriculture".

Also last week thousands of farmers took to the streets in the Polish capital, Warsaw, and agricultural protesters disrupted traffic on roads in Spain close to the French border on Tuesday.

The protesters called for a retraction of the EU's Green Deal, an initiative designed to combat climate change that they argue imposes excessive costs on them.

The demonstrators also demanded that imports of Ukrainian grains and other agricultural products be stopped, saying that their substandard quality is detrimental to the food supply and poses a risk to agriculture.

In May 2022 the EU established the EU-Ukraine Solidarity Lanes to address the issue of agricultural exports. However, for logistical and other reasons most of the Ukrainian agricultural products transiting through ended up stranded in EU countries, to the cost of local farmers.

Zhao Junjie, a research fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, said that as the Russia-Ukraine conflict goes into its third year, whether to continue supporting it will become an increasing preoccupation for many.

The EU perceives Russia as a threat to Europe, and countries across the continent appear united in supporting Ukraine. Although within member countries people were once at loggerheads on matters such as aid to Ukraine and Sweden joining NATO, these differences have ultimately been resolved, Zhao said, adding, "However, ordinary people see things quite differently."

The EU has imposed sanctions on Russia over the past two years that have had a significant impact on its economy, leading to rising energy prices and high inflation, which has fed into higher living costs for ordinary people, he said.

The European Commission recently cut its forecast for EU economic growth this year from 1.3 percent to 0.9 percent.

The EU has used a lot of funds that could have been used to support economic recovery, and focus on the interests of the public, Zhao said.

For example, the EU Council recently approved 50 billion euros ($54 billion) in aid for Ukraine, and some member countries have cut subsidies for agricultural products, much to the ire of many farmers.

Moreover, the EU's transformation toward green agriculture has led to restrictions on the production of local agricultural products, and special policies have allowed an influx of cheap Ukrainian agricultural products into the broader European market.

Fatigue seen

He Yun, an associate professor at the School of Public Administration, Hunan University, said that as the Russia-Ukraine conflict continues, fatigue has set in in the West on supporting Ukraine, and the conflict is likely to further divide the European society.

Angry farmers have already become a problem for the EU and many of its member countries. In European Parliament elections set for June, far-right political parties are likely to capitalize on farmers' discontent to gain an advantage, He said.

A poll published in Europe by the European Council on Foreign Relations recently found that only 10 percent of respondents said they thought Ukraine could defeat Russia on the battlefield. At the same time, 41 percent said peace talks should be pushed forward.

14:57 2024-03-01
Russia ready to return crash victims' bodies to Ukraine

MOSCOW -- Russia has expressed its readiness to transfer the bodies of those who perished in the crash of a military Il-76 aircraft in the Belgorod region to Ukraine, local media reported on Friday.

"Yes, we are prepared. Everything necessary from a procedural standpoint is in place," Russian Human Rights Commissioner Tatyana Moskalkova was quoted by Russia's RIA Novosti news agency as saying.

She added that the bodies can be handed over following existing procedures.

On Jan. 24, the Ukrainian armed forces shot down a Russian military transport aircraft, the Il-76, over the Belgorod region. The aircraft was carrying 65 Ukrainian prisoners for exchange. All the prisoners, along with three accompanying Russian officers and six crew members, lost their lives.

05:31 2024-02-28
Zelensky, Saudi crown prince discuss Russia-Ukraine crisis
This handout photograph taken and released by Ukrainian Presidential Press Service on Feb 27 shows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) speaking with Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud (R) during a visit to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. [AFP PHOTO / Ukrainian Presidential Press Service]

RIYADH -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday discussed the Russia-Ukraine crisis with Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported.

The Saudi crown prince reaffirmed his country's support for all international endeavors aimed at resolving the crisis and achieving peace, and its continued contribution to alleviating the situation through humanitarian assistance, the SPA said.

Zelensky "expressed appreciation and thanks for the efforts exerted by the Kingdom in this regard," according to the report.

The visit aimed to discuss peace prospects, the exchange of prisoners of war, and the areas of economic cooperation and potential involvement of Saudi Arabia in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction efforts, Zelensky said on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

"We discussed the Peace Formula's points and the progress that can be made in implementing them. Saudi Arabia's leadership can assist in finding equitable solutions," Zelensky said. Ukraine's Peace Formula calls for the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukrainian territory.

In another post on X, the Ukrainian president noted that Saudi Arabia "has already contributed to the release of our people. I am confident this meeting will also yield results."

Saudi Arabia, which maintains ties with both Moscow and Kiev, had mediated between the two sides before, helping reach a deal in September 2022 that freed over 200 captive Ukrainians.

03:37 2024-02-28
Visegrad Group not to send troops to Ukraine: PMs
Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico, Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk, Czech Republic's Prime Minister Petr Fiala and Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban pose for a group photo during the summit of the Visegrad Group (V4) countries in Prague, Czech Republic on Feb 27. [Photo/Agencies]

PRAGUE -- The Visegrad Group (V4) countries are not planning to send troops to Ukraine, their prime ministers (PMs) said here on Tuesday.

Czech PM Petr Fiala, Poland's Donald Tusk, Slovakia's Robert Fico and Hungary's Viktor Orban made the statement after a V4 leaders meeting.

Despite their agreement on Ukraine's need for help, they are willing to offer assistance in different forms, Fiala said.

According to Fiala, the Czech Republic and Poland are providing military aid to Ukraine, while Hungary and Slovakia are willing to offer humanitarian and financial aid.

Fico called for an immediate ceasefire and peace talks to solve the Ukraine crisis. Orban also called for peace talks as soon as possible.

Moreover, while the V4 members agreed not to change EU founding treaties, they reached a consensus to adjust common agricultural policy to reduce bureaucracy and regulation, Fiala told reporters.

01:52 2024-02-28
German defense minister rules out sending troops to Ukraine
Tanks are parked, on the day German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and German President Frank Walter Steinmeier visit a training site, where Ukrainian soldiers undergo maintenance training on Leopard 1 A5 tanks, at the German army Bundeswehr base in Klietz, Germany on Feb 23. [Photo/Agencies]

VIENNA -- German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on Tuesday ruled out sending German ground troops to Ukraine after French President Emmanuel Macron suggested on Monday that European nations might do so.

"Boots on the ground is not an option for the Federal Republic of Germany," Pistorius told a press conference after meeting with Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner in Vienna on Tuesday.

Tanner also called Macron's remarks "a worrying signal."

Macron said at a gathering of European leaders on Monday that while there was no official consensus among European leaders, the possibility of sending Western troops to Ukraine "should not be ruled out," adding that the West will do everything to ensure Russia does not win the ongoing conflict.

09:33 2024-02-17
France, Ukraine sign 10-year security pact
French President Emmanuel Macron and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskiy shake hands after a press conference, Feb 16, 2024 at the Elysee Palace in Paris, France. [Photo/Agencies]

PARIS -- French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year security pact in Paris on Friday.

Under the pact, France will offer "up to 3 billion euros" ($3.23 billion) in aid to Kiev in 2024 after having provided support worth 1.7 billion euros in 2022 and 2.1 billion euros in 2023, Macron told a press conference alongside Zelensky.

The French president also said he would visit Ukraine by mid-March.

The pact with France was "ambitious and concrete", said Zelensky.

Earlier in the day, Zelensky and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz signed a long-term security agreement in Berlin. Ukraine had already signed such a security agreement with the United Kingdom in January. (1 euro = 1.08 US dollar)

03:50 2024-02-16
Seven killed, 18 injured in Ukrainian rocket attack on Russia's Belgorod
A view shows a damaged car following an incident, what local authorities called a Ukrainian missile attack, in the course of Russia-Ukraine conflict in Belgorod, Russia, Feb 15, 2024. Telegram channel of Governor of Belgorod Region Vyacheslav Gladkov/Handout via REUTERS

MOSCOW -- Seven people were killed and 18 others injured in a Ukrainian rocket attack on Russia's Belgorod, Russia's Ministry of Health said Thursday.

The attack targeted a shopping center in Belgorod, resulting in casualties, including one child among the deaths and four children among the injured, said the ministry.

The shopping center, which houses a grocery store and a pharmacy, was severely damaged as a result of the rocket attack by the Ukrainian armed forces, Russia's RIA Novosti news agency said in an earlier report.

According to Russia's Ministry of Defense, the Russian air defense shot down 14 RM-70 Vampire MLRS rockets over the Belgorod region.

The Russian Foreign Ministry strongly condemns the attack against civilians and civilian infrastructure, the ministry said in a statement on its website, adding that the crime will be investigated and the perpetrators will be severely punished.

Russia intends to raise this issue for consideration in the United Nations Security Council and other international organizations, the ministry said.

14:40 2024-02-09
Russia repeatedly sought peaceful solution to Ukraine problems: Putin
Russian President Vladimir Putin listens during an interview with US television host Tucker Carlson in Moscow, Russia Feb 6, 2024. [Photo/Agencies]

MOSCOW -- Russia has repeatedly sought a peaceful solution to the problems in Ukraine since 2014, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with US media personality Tucker Carlson published Friday.

"We repeatedly, repeatedly offered to seek a solution to the problems that arose in Ukraine after the coup in 2014 by peaceful means. But no one listened to us. And what's more, the Ukrainian leadership, which was under full control of the United States, suddenly declared that it would not fulfill the Minsk agreements, they did not like anything there, and continued military activity in this territory," Putin said.

Meanwhile, the development of this territory by NATO military structures took place under the guise of various training and retraining centers for personnel, said Putin, adding that they had actually built bases there.

He recalled that the Ukrainian authorities adopted laws that restricted the rights of Russians. "In Ukraine, they declared that Russians are -- they passed a law -- a non-titular nation, and at the same time they adopted laws that restrict the rights of non-titular nations."

"This all together caused the decision to end the war that was started by neo-Nazis in Ukraine in 2014 by armed means," the Russian president said.

02:33 2024-02-08
5 killed, dozens injured in Russia's missiles, drone strikes on Ukraine

KIEV -- At least five people were killed and dozens others injured in a fresh Russian massive drone and missile attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, local authorities said.

Kiev was hit the hardest in the strikes that targeted six Ukrainian regions, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

At least four people were killed and 40 others injured in the Ukrainian capital when debris from a missile hit an 18-storey building in the southern Holosiivskyi district, said the National Police.

Three people were injured and 58 private houses damaged in the Kiev region, said the regional military administration.

One person died and six others were wounded in the attack in the city of Mykolayiv in southern Ukraine, the regional police said in a statement.

Two people were also injured in the eastern Kharkiv region, said the State Service for Emergencies.

Russia fired 44 missiles, including cruise and ballistic missiles, and 20 Shahed combat drones at Ukraine, said the Ukrainian Air Force.

According to it, 29 missiles and 15 drones were downed by the air defense.

09:18 2023-12-28
US gives Ukraine year's final weapons package
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken testifies during a hearing before the Senate Appropriations Committee in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct 31, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua]

WASHINGTON -- The US State Department on Wednesday announced this year's final package of weapons and equipment to aid Ukraine, exhausting existing funding still at the Biden administration's disposal.

The arms and equipment in the package are worth up to $250 million and are being provided "under previously directed drawdowns for Ukraine," Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

"Capabilities provided in today's package include air defense munitions, other air defense system components, additional ammunition for high mobility artillery rocket systems, 155mm and 105mm artillery ammunition, anti-armor munitions, and over 15 million rounds of ammunition," Blinken said.

Assistance packages such as this just-announced one fall under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows weapons to be pulled directly from the stocks of the Department of Defense so that they can be delivered to Ukraine in a swift manner.

The United States has already used up funds from another form of assistance for Ukraine, the congressionally-appropriated Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which enables the Department of Defense to purchase weapons for Kiev by signing contracts with arms manufacturers.

In his statement, Blinken reiterated the urgent need for Congress to get their work done. "It is imperative that Congress act swiftly, as soon as possible, to advance our national security interests by helping Ukraine defend itself and secure its future," he said.

Warning that the funding Congress previously approved for providing assistance to Ukraine would soon dry up, the Biden administration said last week that lacking lawmakers' renewed commitment to further appropriation meeting the White House's over $60 billion supplemental budget request for Ukraine, the administration would be able to announce but one additional package for Kiev before year's end.

"We are still planning one more aid package to Ukraine later this month," John Kirby, the National Security Council's Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters on Dec. 18.

"However, when that one's done ... we will have no more replenishment authority available to us, and we're going to need Congress to act without delay, as we have been saying," Kirby said.

On Capitol Hill, Republicans are withholding their votes for new money for Ukraine, conditioning their approval on Democrats making compromise to satisfy the GOP's demand for tighter control measures on the border to keep incoming migrants at bay.

Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in February 2022, the United States has committed more than $44.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine, the Pentagon said in a fact sheet published Wednesday.

20:42 2023-11-25
Five injured in Ukrainian capital in drone attack
An explosion of a drone is seen in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, in Kyiv, Ukraine Nov 25, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]

KYIV -- At least five people were injured here overnight Saturday as Russian forces carried out a large-scale drone attack against the city, authorities said.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 75 kamikaze drones Shahed-131 and Shahed-136, and most of them were launched against Kyiv, the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Telegram.

The Ukrainian air defense destroyed 71 of the drones, it said.

The drone strike, which lasted for six hours, marked the fourth attack on Kyiv this month, the Kiev City Military Administration said in a statement.

The attack disrupted the electricity supply to 77 residential buildings and 120 institutions, it said.

Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko said four adults and an 11-year-old child suffered minor injuries in the attack.

Private houses, apartment blocks and a kindergarten in Kyiv have been damaged by the falling drone parts, Klitschko wrote on Telegram.

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