The White House said in a statement that Biden and US Vice President Kamala Harris spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday "to underscore that the United States will never recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Ukrainian territory."
Biden "pledged to continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes, including the provision today of a new $625 million security assistance package that includes additional weapons and equipment, including HIMARS, artillery systems and ammunition, and armored vehicles," according to the statement.
Biden also "affirmed the continued readiness of the United States to impose severe costs on any individual, entity, or country that provides support to Russia’s purported annexation," the White House said.
It added that the US president "welcomed the success of the agreement that has allowed the safe export of Ukrainian grain to global markets and the need to ensure that continues."
In addition, Biden "noted the ongoing efforts of the United States to rally the world behind Ukraine’s efforts to defend its freedom and democracy, as enshrined in the United Nations Charter," according to the statement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin last Friday signed documents to incorporate four regions of Ukraine into Russia at a televised ceremony in the Kremlin.
The move came after Russia held what it called referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine and declared the annexation of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions.
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Source: PAP, whitehouse.gov