President Joe Biden plans to announce an additional US aid package to Ukraine on Thursday as part of his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House.
National Security Council senior director for Europe, Amanda Sloat, confirmed the forthcoming announcement in an interview on MSNBC’s “Andrea Mitchell Reports” ahead of the meeting Biden will be hosting. The Oval Office meeting will be attended by Zelensky’s military cabinet, as well as Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
“The president today, as part of President Zelensky’s visit, will be announcing an additional package of security assistance,” Sloat said. “It’s the fourth package that we will have announced in six weeks, and there is expected to be a very significant amount of air defense included in that package, which is the most critical capability that the Ukrainians need now.”
Sloat said the new package will not include ATACMS, which are long-range ballistic missiles that are equipped with cluster munitions—tiny bomblets that disperse widely on a target. She noted, however, that Biden has not ruled out providing them in the future.
Two US officials confirmed to NBC News that the assistance package will be valued at up to $325 million. This package is separate from the additional $24 billion that the president wants Congress to approve for Ukraine.
Before the meeting began in the Oval Office, Biden and Zelensky gave brief remarks to the press. Biden said that no nation will be secure if the US does not help Ukraine defend its territory against Russia. Zelensky thanked Biden and Congress for frank and constructive dialogue during their meetings on Thursday.
Zelensky emphasized that the focus of the meeting with the president would be on air defense capabilities. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Secretary of State Antony Blinken were seen in the back of the room.
Biden’s meeting with Zelensky comes as part of the Ukrainian leader’s second trip to Washington since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022.
Earlier in the day, the Ukrainian leader met with a bipartisan group of House members in the morning and met with about 70 senators shortly after. A number of Republicans, especially those in the House, are skeptical about approving more aid to Ukraine.
In the meeting with senators, Zelensky took half a dozen questions on topics including a plan for victory and what Ukrainians need most from the US in terms of financial and military aid.
Biden and Zelensky will meet in the Oval Office, followed by an expanded bilateral meeting in the East Room that Vice President Kamala Harris will also attend.
The first ladies of both nations will also be part of the visit.
John Kirby, the National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications, told reporters on Wednesday that Biden is “looking forward” to hearing a “battlefield perspective directly from Ukraine’s commander in chief” and reiterated that the administration will continue to stand with Ukraine.
Zelensky also visited the Pentagon, where he met with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
Biden previously reiterated support for Ukraine and emphasized that “Russia alone bears responsibility for this war” in his Tuesday speech at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City.