Ukraine war: Biden will send air defence weapons once Senate approves, Zelensky says
- The US Senate is set to vote Tuesday on a major aid package for Ukraine after House’s months-long delay
- Outgunned and outmanned Ukrainian forces have for months struggled to hold back Moscow’s troops
US President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday the US will send badly needed air defence weaponry once the Senate approves a massive national security aid package that includes US$61 billion for Ukraine.
Zelensky said in a posting on X that Biden also assured him that a coming package of aid would also include long-range and artillery capabilities.
Ukraine is awaiting US Senate approval after the House this weekend approved the US$95 billion package that also includes aid for other allies. The US Senate is set to vote Tuesday.
It comes after months of delay as some Republican lawmakers opposed further funding for Ukraine and threatened to oust Speaker Mike Johnson if he allowed a vote to take place.
Kyiv badly needs new firepower as Moscow has stepped up its attacks against an outgunned Ukraine. The Senate is expected to vote on the package this week, and Biden has promised to quickly sign it into law.