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WASHINGTON: US President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million security assistance package for Ukraine on Thursday to further shore up support for the embattled country as it faces a fresh onslaught by Russia on its eastern flank. Biden pledged to send dozens of howitzers, 1,44,000 rounds of ammunition and tactical drones. “We’re in a critical window now of time where they’re going to set the stage for the next phase of this war,” he said.
The new arms package is the same size as an $800 million one announced last week. The US has also announced plans to transfer Russian-made helicopters to Ukraine that had once been intended for Afghanistan. In total, the US has agreed to provide 16 Mi-17s to Ukraine. All were undergoing US-contracted maintenance outside of Afghanistan in August when the Taliban took over the country, according to Washington Post.
The president also announced plans to ban Russian-affiliated ships from US borders, joining Canada and European nations. “That means no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity will be allowed to dock in a US port or access our shores. None,” Biden said. The US also imposed sanctions on more than 40 people and entities. Wednesday’s move targets Russia’s virtual currency mining industry, reportedly the third-largest in the world, sanctioning the holding company of Moscow-based bitcoin miner BitRiver, which operates a data center in Siberia, and 10 of the holding company’s Russia based subsidiaries.
The new arms package is the same size as an $800 million one announced last week. The US has also announced plans to transfer Russian-made helicopters to Ukraine that had once been intended for Afghanistan. In total, the US has agreed to provide 16 Mi-17s to Ukraine. All were undergoing US-contracted maintenance outside of Afghanistan in August when the Taliban took over the country, according to Washington Post.
The president also announced plans to ban Russian-affiliated ships from US borders, joining Canada and European nations. “That means no ship that sails under the Russian flag or that is owned or operated by a Russian entity will be allowed to dock in a US port or access our shores. None,” Biden said. The US also imposed sanctions on more than 40 people and entities. Wednesday’s move targets Russia’s virtual currency mining industry, reportedly the third-largest in the world, sanctioning the holding company of Moscow-based bitcoin miner BitRiver, which operates a data center in Siberia, and 10 of the holding company’s Russia based subsidiaries.
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