In a statement on Wednesday, Joe Biden signaled the firmness of Washington´s commitment to Ukraine´s struggle, saying the $2.98 billion for arms and other equipment aimed to ensure it can continue defending itself over the long term.

The new funds will be for air defense systems, artillery and the much-in-demand ammunition for those systems, as well as radars and systems to counter Russian drones, Biden said.

In total, the U.S. has committed over $13.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine since the beginning of the Joe Biden administration in January 2021.

The new package uses funds from the congressionally appropriated Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) to make it easier for the government to procure weapons from industry rather than taking them from the U.S. stockpile.

President Biden will hold a phone talk with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky on Thursday, said White House National Security Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby.

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