Biden and Zelensky held talks on the sidelines of the G7 summit of world leaders on Sunday, the Ukrainska Pravda website reported.
During the meeting in Hiroshima, the US president announced a new USD 375 million package of security assistance to Ukraine, including ammunition, artillery and armoured vehicles, Polish state news agency PAP reported.
Biden told Zelensky that the United States was doing all it could to strengthen Ukraine’s defence for the war with Russia, according to the Reuters news agency.
The US president told his Ukrainian counterpart: “"Together with the entire G7, we have Ukraine's back and I promise we're not going anywhere."
During the talks, Biden stressed America’s readiness “to continue delivering security assistance to meet Ukraine’s immediate battlefield needs,” as well as “to build Ukraine’s long term capacity to defend against and deter Russian aggression,” the White House said.
To that end, the two leaders discussed US support for a joint effort with allied and partner countries “to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, like the F-16,” according to the White House.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Zelensky thanked the United States for the new arms aid package, and for the “powerful financial assistance” of more than USD 37 billion to date, his office said.
HIMARS, artillery rounds, armoured vehicles
The new package of USD 375 million in US security assistance for Ukraine includes additional ammunition for the HIMARS artillery rocket systems; 55mm and 105mm artillery rounds; and armoured medical treatment vehicles, among other items, the Pentagon said.
The G7 brings together the world’s biggest advanced economies and liberal democracies: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Britain and the United States, as well as the European Union as a "non-enumerated member."
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, launching the largest military campaign in Europe since World War II.
Sunday is day 452 of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
(pm)
Source: PAP, Reuters, Ukrainska Pravda, White House, defense.gov, president.gov.ua