Calling Zelensky: President Biden Promises US To Continue Supporting Ukraine, Adds HIMARS And Howitzer

President Joe Biden called President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: Twitter/@POTUS)

JAKARTA - United States President Joe Biden told Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday Washington would provide Kyiv with 625 million US dollars in new security assistance, including the High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher, the White House said.

President Biden "promised to continue supporting Ukraine to defend itself against Russian aggression for as long as necessary," the statement said.

President Biden was joined on the call by Vice President Kamala Harris, the White House said in a statement.

The president underlined that Washington will never recognize Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory, the White House added.

Meanwhile, the State Department said in its release, the package includes four HIMARS launchers and associated rockets, 32 Howitzers with 75,000 rounds of ammunition, 200 Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) vehicles and Claymore antipersonnel mines.

The package is the first aid package since Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory, as well as the second Presidential Withdrawal Authority (PDA) since Ukraine made major advances on the battlefield in mid-September.

Today I spoke with President Zelenskyy to underscore that the U.S. will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory.

I reaffirmed my commitment to continue supporting Ukraine, including through today's new $625 million security assistance package. pic.twitter.com/0ZP2uopn4n

— President Biden (@POTUS) October 4, 2022

Russia's annexation, announced last week, follows what it calls a referendum on the occupied territories of Ukraine. Western and Kyiv governments said the vote violated international law, was coercive and unrepresentative.

"The recent developments of Russia's bogus referendum and annexation efforts expose the brutality against civilians in the territory of Ukraine formerly controlled by Russia, only strengthens our resolve," US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement.

Last week, the United States unveiled a $1.1 billion weapons package for Ukraine, which includes 18 HIMARS launcher systems, accompanying munitions, various types of drone counter systems and radar systems.

However, last week's aid package was funded by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) meaning the government should buy weapons from industry, rather than withdraw them from existing US stockpiles.

The United States has so far pledged 20 HIMARS launchers to Ukraine using PDAs.

The latest announcement brings US aid to Ukraine to more than $16.8 billion, since Russia's invasion, February 24.