The Biden administration has announced another $800 million in defense assistance for Ukraine, alongside the $800 million worth of defense aid for Ukraine that the U.S. rolled out last week. All of this assistance consists of various weapons for the Ukrainians to use in their continuing efforts to fight off Russian aggression. In Ukraine, the war recently began by Russian leader Vladimir Putin has now somewhat shifted in its main focus to eastern and southern portions of the country. Russian forces reportedly control an over three-fourths majority of Ukraine’s Luhansk region, according to the area’s governor. As reported by The Kyiv Independent on Wednesday, “Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai said that the area controlled by Russia increased after the capture on April 18 of Kreminna, a city with a population of more than 18,000 people.”
⚡️ Governor: Russians control 80% of Luhansk Oblast.
Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Gaidai said that the area controlled by Russia increased after the capture on April 18 of Kreminna, a city with a population of more than 18,000 people.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 20, 2022
In remarks regarding the new aid, President Joe Biden commented as follows this Thursday:
‘Russian forces have retreated from Kyiv, leaving behind them horrifying evidence… of their atrocities and war crimes against the Ukrainian people. It’s so clear to the whole world now. Now, they’ve launched and refocused their campaign to seize new territory in eastern Ukraine. And we’re in a critical window now where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war. And the United States and our allies and partners are moving as fast as possible to continue to provide Ukraine with the… equipment… their forces need to defend their nation… In the past two months, we’ve moved weapons and equipment to Ukraine at record speed… The United States alone has provided 10 anti-armor systems for every one Russian tank that’s in Ukraine.’
⚡️ Ukrainian Ombudsman Lyudmyla Denisova: Russian troops forcibly deport group of Ukrainian children to Russia.
According to her, a group of Ukrainian teenagers aged 14-15 from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts were left with a charitable foundation in Russian city Vladimir.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 21, 2022
“We won’t always be able to advertise everything that our partners are doing to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom, but to modernize Teddy Roosevelt’s famous advice, sometimes we will speak softly and carry a large Javelin, because we’re sending a lot of those in as well,” Biden added. The president also said he’d be pushing Congress to authorize additional spending on weapons assistance for the Ukrainians defending themselves. Biden also observed as follows:
‘Our unity at home, our unity with our allies and partners, and our unity with the Ukrainian people is sending an unmistakable message to Putin: he will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine. He will not — that will not happen… Putin has failed to achieve his grand ambitions on the battlefield. After weeks of shelling Kyiv, Kyiv still stands. President Zelenskyy and his democratically elected government still remain in power. And the Ukrainian Armed Forces, joined by many brave Ukrainian civilians, have thwarted Russia’s conquest of their country… We will never fail in our determination to defend freedom and oppose tyranny.’
⚡️Biden announces additional $800 million military aid to Ukraine.
The U.S. president said on April 21 that it sent a message to Putin: "He will never succeed in dominating and occupying all of Ukraine."
Biden also announced a ban for Russian ships to enter U.S. ports.
— The Kyiv Independent (@KyivIndependent) April 21, 2022
Biden also announced that authorities would be imposing bans at U.S. ports and shores on ships that fly under the Russian flag or are owned or operated by a Russian interest. As for the progression of the conflict in Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has apparently opted to halt Russian attempts to seize the Azovstal steel plant in the long-besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol, but according to orders provided from Putin to Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, Russia’s forces will be keeping the premises blockaded. Military personnel and civilians are trapped at the sprawling plant, and across Mariupol, the civilian death toll is believed to be in the tens of thousands — making clear how, despite the numerous strategic losses for Russian troops, the tolls inflicted on Ukrainian civilians have been devastating. The number of dead civilians recovered from the administrative region around Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, was recently reported to be approaching 1,100. Most victims were shot. Check out Biden’s remarks below:
