Hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned plea to Congress for more help defending his country, President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced $800 million in new assistance for the war-torn nation.
Ukraine will receive 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, 9,000 anti-armor systems, 7,000 small arms like machine guns and shotguns, 100 drones, and 20 million rounds to help combat Russian forces, according to a White House fact sheet.
In his speech to members of Congress, Zelensky reiterated his request for the U.S. to back a no-fly zone, yet this was not agreed to, as the Biden administration and the Pentagon have opposed measures that could lead to a direct war with Russia. Still, Biden called Zelensky’s remarks “convincing and significant.”
“He speaks for people who have shown remarkable courage and strength in the face of brutal aggression —…