STORY: :: Ukraine's Zelenskiy and President Biden meet

as the U.S. announces $225 million in new aid

:: July 11, 2024

:: Joe Biden, U.S. President

"We will stay with you. Period."

"Today, I'm proud to announce a new security systems package for Ukraine. This will be the eighth package I've authorized since we signed the national security bill."

"And we're working with our NATO allies to ensure that Ukraine is flying F16s this summer. And we show the world that we stand with Ukraine, now and in the future."

:: Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine President

"Thank you for such strong news about the security package. I'm grateful to you, your team, your administration, of course Congress, both parties, both chambers, and all Americans for their vital and your strong support of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Together, we are saving the lives of our people."

"And of course we will discuss achieving a just end to the war. How we must end this war justly and for peace to return as possible. We need a second peace summit this year. Thank you for your participation, and we are counting heavily on America's support in this. God bless America and slava Ukraine."

The new aid package includes a Patriot missile battery, additional ammunition for high-mobility artillery rocket systems and missiles, among other items.

"As President Biden has made clear, the United States and the international coalition we have assembled will continue to stand with Ukraine," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement announcing the package after Biden's remarks to the Ukrainian leader.

Washington, Ukraine's biggest supporter, has provided more than $50 billion in military aid since 2022 when the Russian invasion began. But U.S. military aid was delayed in Congress for months over the winter, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said a shortage of weapons was giving Russia the upper hand.

After battle lines remained largely frozen since early in the conflict, Moscow made some advances in eastern Ukraine in recent months. Zelenskiy has urged Western governments to increase and speed up military aid to Kyiv's forces. U.S. legislation was approved in April that provided $61 billion in funding to Ukraine.

Zelenskiy said the two men would discuss how to achieve a just end to the war with Russia, and called for a second peace summit this year. An initial summit, which Russia was not invited to, was held in Switzerland last month.