US President Joe Biden has issued a warning, saying American military forces may enter into a direct conflict with Russia if Ukraine loses the war.
In a statement released on Friday, Biden claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin “seeks to obliterate Ukraine and subjugate its people. He must be stopped.”
Biden’s warning came after Russia launched fresh airstrikes against Ukraine, targeting the Ukrainian military facilities in the south, west, and east of the country, with heavy damage reported at multiple sites.
The heavy overnight strike by Russia took place as the US Congress remains deadlocked over whether to provide further military support to Kiev in the US-led Western countries’ proxy war against Russian troops in Donbas which will enter its third year in late February 2024.
Biden said Russia’s latest airstrikes on Ukraine showed Russian leadership maintained unwavering resolve to achieve its set objective in Ukraine.
“It is a stark reminder to the world that, after nearly two years of this devastating war, Putin’s objective remains unchanged.”
The president said the Russians had used drones and missiles, including those with hypersonic capability, for the latest strike.
He called on Congress to provide additional military aid for Ukraine, noting Kiev used air defense systems from the Americans and their allies to try to defend itself against the heavy Russian airstrikes.
“Unless Congress takes urgent action in the new year, we will not be able to continue sending the weapons and vital air defense systems Ukraine needs to protect its people. Congress must step up and act without any further delay,” Biden insisted.
The US has already delivered multiple huge shipments of weapons and munitions to Kiev to fight the war against Russia. But, it has been to no avail.
Earlier this month, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky visited Washington to ask Congress to approve the supply of more weapons and munitions for the Kiev forces.
On Thursday, Zelensky thanked Biden, Congress, and the American people for the latest $250mn military aid package for his country, which Washington announced a day earlier.
“Additional air defense missiles and components, anti-tank weapons, ammunition, mine clearing, and other equipment will cover Ukraine’s most pressing needs,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on X.
Zelensky said Washington had provided Kiev with 34 military aid packages worth over $24 billion in 2023.
He added that these packages include Patriot air defense systems, Abrams tanks, armored vehicles, ATACMS tactical missile systems, missiles, artillery rounds, as well as mine-clearing and other critical equipment.
The Ukrainian president also noted that a “historic decision” was made to provide Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets and that Ukraine will “always be grateful for all of this support.”
Since the start of the war, the US has led a Western coalition sending tens of billions of dollars in weaponry and munitions to Kiev.
Moscow has repeatedly warned Western leaders against the continued supply of weapons and munitions to Ukraine, pointing out that such measures will not stop Russian troops from defending its objectives and that arming Kiev would only prolong the war.
