WASHINGTON: The United States (US) responded on Friday to a Russian warning against arming Ukrainian forces by providing a further $400 million in security aid, as US President Joe Biden hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to show unity against Moscow.
Meanwhile, the head of Russia’s Wagner group said its fighters had “practically encircled” the Bakhmut city of Ukraine, which has seen the fiercest fighting of Moscow’s invasion.
Western military aid for Ukraine has been crucial to hold out against Russia’s military onslaught and even to regain ground, but the Kremlin said such assistance will only “prolong the war and have sad consequences for the people of Ukraine.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said arms deliveries “place a huge burden on the economies of these nations and negatively affect the well-being of citizens of these countries, including Germany.”
The US ignored that warning, announcing the new security package for Ukraine that featured ammunition, including for the Himars precision rocket system that Ukrainian troops have used to devastating effect against Russian forces and supply dumps.
In a display of crucial partnership after friction over supplying tanks to Ukraine, Joe Biden hosted Olaf Scholz for his first trip to Washington since the Russian invasion.
Biden vows to respond to Russian provocation
When the two leaders last met, “Russia was amassing its forces” on the border, the US President said in brief remarks to media, adding the Western countries had vowed to respond and “together we made good on that promise.”
In reply, Scholz said it was essential to send a message to Ukraine that they will continue to support Kyiv as long as it takes and as long as it necessary.
However, the absence of a joint press conference raised questions about remaining difficulties, but the two leaders tried to dispel that impression, and Scholz said the bilateral relationship was “in perfect shape.”
In a similar show of support for Ukraine, US Attorney General Merrick Garland visited the country on Friday to attend a summit on justice and war crimes.
“The attorney general held various meetings and reaffirmed our determination to hold Moscow accountable for crimes committed in its unprovoked and unjust invasion against its sovereign neighbor,” a Justice Department official said.
