Biden gives more aid to Ukraine after Zelenskyy meeting

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday granted almost $8 billion in additional military support to Ukraine as it continues its fight against Russia. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday thanked Biden for the assistance and promised to use it as effectively and transparently as possible.

The two leaders met on the side of the United Nations summit in New York City on Wednesday, Zelenskyy said. They discussed in detail his plan for the war, the Ukrainian president added. Zelenskyy and Biden were scheduled to later meet with Vice President Kamala Harris and other administration officials at the White House on Thursday.

What sort of aid is the White House giving Ukraine? The aid would include a new Patriot missile defense system as well as missiles for that system and other Patriot systems already in Ukraine, the White House said. The administration already has plans to provide Kyiv with hundreds of Patriot missiles over the coming year, the White House added.

The United States will also provide Ukraine with other types of air defense systems, drones, and air-to-ground ammunition, the White House said. The administration also promised Ukraine Joint Standoff Weapons—missiles capable of executing precision strikes at long range. Finally, the United States will also train roughly 18 more Ukrainian fighter pilots for F-16 aircraft.

Dig deeper: Listen to Paul Butler’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about NATO members considering whether to provide new military supplies to Ukraine.