Biden Apologizes to Zelensky for Delays in US Military Aid

US President Joe Biden, announcing a new aid package for Ukraine, apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the delay of the draft in Congress. Aid failed to be agreed upon for about six months. “I assure you that the United States will stand with you. We are still in, completely,” the president said, addressing Volodymyr Zelensky. Afterwards, he expressed regret that the draft law on aid to Ukraine was passed in Congress with a long delay. The words of the US president at the meeting with Mr. Zelensky in Paris were quoted by the Associated Press and the Associated France Press. AP notes that the US president apologized to the Ukrainian authorities for the first time for the problems with the passage of the aid bill in Congress. On 24 April, Joe Biden signed a package of bills, including a $61bn aid package for Ukraine. Before that, the US Congress had been unable to agree on the structure of this package for about six months. Today, on 7 June, Mr. Biden has announced a new $225m military aid package for Ukraine. The package will include ammunition for HIMARS, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and HAWK air defense missiles, among others. Earlier, on 24 May, the Pentagon announced the allocation of a new $275m military aid package to Ukraine.