Biden announces fresh aid to Ukraine but stops short of Zelenskyy's demands

President Joe Biden on Wednesday announced an additional $800 million in military aid to Ukraine, bringing the total amount of funding allocated to the country this week to $1 billion.

Biden’s announcement came on the heels of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s speech to Congress, in which Zelenskyy pleaded with the U.S. and its NATO allies to enforce a no-fly zone over Ukraine or send jets to aid in its fight against Russia. Biden made no mention of either Zelenskyy request, and emphasized the aid would empower Ukrainians to fight the Russians themselves.

The president did pledge to arm the Ukrainian military with drones, a step he said “demonstrates our commitment to sending the most cutting-edge systems to Ukraine for its defense.” Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), the top GOP lawmaker on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told POLITICO the drones are armed Switchblades — small, light drones that can loiter in the air for up to 30 minutes before being directed to their target by an operator on the ground who could be miles away.

“This could be a long and difficult battle, but the American people will be steadfast in our support of the people of Ukraine in the face of Putin’s immoral, unethical attacks on civilian populations,” Biden said. “We are united in the abhorrence of depraved onslaught, and we are going to continue to have their backs as they fight for their freedom, their democracy, their very survival.”

After an event later on Wednesday, Biden responded to a reporter’s question by saying he thought President Vladimir Putin of Russia was a “war criminal.”