In a statement, Biden said the aid would allow Ukraine to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and ammunition, drones and other equipment “to ensure that it continues to defend itself in the long term.” It is the largest aid package from the US, which has so far sent $10.6 billion in security aid to Ukraine. The announcement comes as Ukraine celebrates its 1991 declaration of independence from the Soviet Union. “I know this independence day is bittersweet for many Ukrainians as thousands have been killed or injured, millions have been displaced from their homes, and so many more have fallen victim to Russian atrocities and attacks,” Biden said. “But six months of merciless attacks have only strengthened Ukrainians’ pride in themselves, their country and their thirty-one years of independence.” Unlike most previous packages, the new U.S. funding is largely aimed at helping Ukraine secure its mid- to long-term defense posture, officials told The Associated Press ahead of its public release. WATCHES | Scholz tells CBC News that Putin’s “dictated peace” will not be accepted:
German chancellor says ‘unwise’ to predict when war in Ukraine will end
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was unwilling to speculate on when the war in Ukraine would end and said it would be “unwise” to make a prediction. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said his country was providing more than 500 million euros ($498 million) in aid, including powerful anti-aircraft systems. And Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Tuesday announced Cdn$3.85 million for two projects in Ukraine, with most of it earmarked for funding for the continued deployment of Ukraine’s national police and other emergency services. “Ukrainians are not just defending their country; they are defending the values of freedom and democracy that we hold dear here in Canada and in many places around the world,” Trudeau said in a statement Wednesday. “We must continue to rally with our allies and partners to offer our steadfast support to the Ukrainian people.” Foreign Minister Melanie Jolie, speaking to CBC News in Toronto, said the Liberal government is steadfast in its support. “We know that Putin’s war of choice is a war of imperialism,” he said. “So it’s not a logical decision and we have to make sure that, in the meantime, we strengthen the position of the Ukrainians. “We have to continue to support them by really isolating Russia diplomatically, economically and politically. We have to make sure that we send in heavy artillery. We have to be there for the Ukrainian people through humanitarian aid and we also have to shine a light on the atrocities that Russia is committing in Ukraine ».
The Security Council meeting is in progress
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine on February 24. Moscow’s military faced unexpectedly stiff Ukrainian resistance, and the six months of fighting turned life in Ukraine upside down and sent shockwaves through the global economy. Both countries have seen thousands of soldiers killed and wounded. Families attend a ceremony at the graves of fallen soldiers at Lychakiv Cemetery on Wednesday in Lviv, Ukraine. The day marked six months since the large-scale invasion of Ukraine, which coincided with the anniversary of its 1991 independence from the Soviet Union. (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images) World leaders commemorated Ukraine’s independence day. The UK Ministry of Defense tweeted a video of the Scots Guards band, which usually provides musical accompaniment for the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, performing Ukraine’s Eurovision Song Contest winning entry, Stefania. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is due to leave soon, urged allies to continue providing Ukraine with all the military, humanitarian, economic and diplomatic support it needs. “We will never recognize Russia’s annexation of Crimea or any other Ukrainian territory,” Johnson said in a video clip on Tuesday before making a surprise visit to Kyiv. WATCHES | Ukraine doesn’t just ‘keep’ 6 months since the invasion: analyst:
Russia and Ukraine in war of attrition, military analyst says
The war between Russia and Ukraine has become something of a stalemate, but Ukraine now needs more tanks, artillery and special munitions for its war effort, says Nicholas Drummond, a former British army officer and now a defense analyst. Pope Francis in Wednesday’s mass denounced the “insanity” of the war and lamented that innocents on both sides paid the price. The Pope warned of the risk of a nuclear disaster in Ukraine, referring to the bombing of the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Concerns about the nuclear plant were back on the agenda Wednesday at the United Nations Security Council, with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expected to brief reporters.
Silent observation in Ukraine
In Ukraine, residents of Kiev woke up to air raid sirens. Authorities in the capital banned large-scale gatherings until Thursday, fearing the national holiday could trigger particularly heavy Russian missile attacks. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the public to be vigilant in following safety rules and curfews. Last year, crowds flocked to Kyiv to watch a military parade marking the 30th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. But this year, only a small number of residents gathered in Kiev’s central square, where wrecked Russian tanks and mobile artillery were displayed over the weekend. “I can’t sleep at night because of what I’m seeing and hearing about what’s happening in Ukraine,” said a pensioner who identified herself only by her first name, Tetyana, her voice shaking with emotion. “It’s not a war. It’s the destruction of the Ukrainian people.” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, speaking at an international conference in China on Wednesday, claimed that Moscow’s slow pace of military action was due to what he said was an effort to save civilians. Shoigu said that “precision weapon strikes are being carried out against the military infrastructure of the Ukrainian armed forces… Everything is being done to avoid civilian casualties. Undoubtedly, it slows down the pace of the attack, but we do it deliberately.” Damaged Russian military vehicles installed in the center of Kiev are shown on Wednesday. Ukrainian officials have urged citizens to be cautious on Independence Day as fears of Russian bombing are heightened. (Evgeniy Maloletka/The Associated Press) At the forefront of the Russian offensive in eastern Ukraine, the conflict continued. Russian forces struck several towns and villages in Donetsk province within 24 hours, killing one person and wounding two others, according to the regional administration. In the Dnipropetrovsk region on the southern front, Russian forces again shelled the towns of Nikopol and Marhanets, damaging several buildings and injuring two people, according to Governor Valentyn Reznichenko. Russian troops also shelled the city of Zaporizhzhia, damaging many buildings and infrastructure, but causing no casualties.
