News - World: The US, the UK and Canada will send more military weaponry to Ukraine, their leaders have announced as the Russian military operation reached a new phase.

US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau made the announcement on Tuesday after they and their allied leaders participated in a secure video call. 

Others on the call included European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg as well as the leaders of Italy, Japan and Poland.

Speaking to reporters on Air Force One, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to providing Ukraine security and economic assistance.

“We will continue to provide them more ammunition, as we will provide them more military assistance,” Psaki said. 

Meanwhile, Biden is expected to announce within the coming days another military aid package for Ukraine nearly the same size as the $800 million one announced last week.

The new package would bring total US military aid to Ukraine since Russia began its military operation there in February to well over $3 billion.

The package announced last week includes artillery systems, artillery rounds, armored personnel carriers and unmanned coastal defense boats.

Biden, when asked by reporters during a visit to New Hampshire if Washington would send more artillery to Ukraine, replied yes.

Johnson and Trudeau also said that their respective countries would be sending artillery to Ukraine.

The British premier told reporters in London, “This will become an artillery conflict, they need support with more artillery, that is what we will be giving them … in addition to many other forms of support.”

Meanwhile, the Pentagon said Tuesday that Ukraine's military had received additional aircraft as well parts for repairs for its damaged aircraft.

"They have received additional aircraft and aircraft parts to help them get more aircraft in the air," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby told a news briefing, but noted Washington had not provided any aircraft to Kiev.

"We certainly have helped with the trans-shipment of some additional spare parts that have helped with their aircraft needs, but we have not transported whole aircraft," he said.

More sanctions on Russia

Psaki also said the United States was preparing another round of sanctions to impose on Moscow.

She said the Washington and its allies discussed their coordinated efforts to further impose “severe economic costs to hold Russia accountable.” 

They will coordinate the efforts through the G7, the European Union and NATO, she said.

The new developments come as Russian forces have seized control of the city of Kreminna in eastern Ukraine after the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the area. 

The regional governor said Tuesday that Kreminna, a city of more than 18,000 people about 574 km southeast of Kiev, was captured after Russian forces attacked "from all sides."

Moscow is launching a new phase of its military offensive in the former Soviet republic, with Russia's defense minister saying his country is seeking to "liberate" eastern Ukraine.

"We are gradually implementing our plan to liberate the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics," Sergei Shoigu said in a televised meeting with Russian military commanders. "We are taking measures to restore peaceful life."

Shoigu laid the blame for the bloodshed in the Ukrainian war on Washington and its Western allies, accusing them of providing arms and weaponry to the Ukrainian forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" against Ukraine on February 24. The United States and its European allies have introduced waves of unprecedented sanctions against Moscow.

The Kremlin says it will halt the operation instantly if Kiev meets Russia's list of demands, including never applying to join NATO.

Source: Press TV

#US #Britain #Canada #Russia Ukraine Conflict About 2 years