US allocates new military aid for Ukraine worth $7.9 billion - Zelenskyy

"I am grateful to US President Joseph Biden, the US. Congress, and both parties—Republicans and Democrats—as well as the entire American people for today's announcement of significant defense aid to Ukraine, amounting to a total of $7.9 billion, and for imposing sanctions against Russia," the president stated.

The head of state also thanked the United States for finding a way to allocate the remaining (about $5.9 billion) previously designated funds to ensure that the president's authority to allocate aid would not expire before the end of the US fiscal year.

According to Zelenskyy, the new military assistance will include an additional Patriot air defense battery, other air defense systems and interceptors, drones, long-range missiles, air-to-ground munitions, and funds to strengthen Ukraine’s defense-industrial base.

Additionally, the US is expanding its pilot training program for F-16s and has imposed sanctions on Russia to limit its ability to finance the war against Ukraine.

"We have always valued the strong bipartisan support in the United States and among Americans for Ukraine’s just cause of defeating Russian aggression," Zelenskyy added.

New US aid packages

During Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the US, the White House announced a new aid package to Ukraine, valued at $375 million.

As part of the package, Ukraine will receive missiles, HIMARS ammunition, artillery shells, anti-tank weapons, M1117 armored vehicles, and other military equipment. According to ABC News, this package will, for the first time, include Joint Stand-Off Weapons (JSOW) for F-16 fighter jets, which can hit targets up to 110 kilometers away.

Reuters previously reported that the US plans to announce over $8 billion in aid to Ukraine.