U.S. unveils $2 billion in Ukraine aid, sanctions and tariff hikes on Russia a year after invasion

WASHINGTON – The United States authorized $2 cardinal successful assistance to Ukraine connected the one-year day of Russia's penetration Friday, and ramped up sanctions and tariffs connected Moscow arsenic it tries to bolster Kyiv's warfare effort.

The weapons bundle announced by the Defense Department includes backing for contracts for HIMARS rockets, drones and counter-drone equipment, mine-clearing devices, 155-millimeter artillery ammunition and unafraid lines of communication.

President Joe Biden met virtually with leaders of the G-7 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy connected Friday greeting to people the occasion, 1 twelvemonth aft the radical archetypal met to sermon aid.

The Biden medication besides announced it would sanction much than 200 individuals and entities tied to the Russian warfare effort, including by targeting the country's metals and mining sector. The U.S. besides said it would ramp up its export controls connected Russian goods and summation tariffs connected Russia products similar metals and minerals.

Biden has been adamant astir showing the U.S.'s enactment for Ukraine arsenic the warfare drags connected into its 2nd year.

The president made a astonishment sojourn to the country's superior of Kyiv connected Monday up of his travel to Warsaw, Poland wherever helium delivered a speech marking the anniversary. Biden reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting Ukraine, calling the warfare an illustration of authoritarianism against ideology and decrying acts by Russian forces which Biden said represent warfare crimes.

Earlier this month, Ukraine's authoritative general, Andriy Kostin, said that determination authorities person logged much than 65,000 Russian warfare crimes since Moscow invaded Ukraine nearly a twelvemonth ago.

Kostin said his teams person besides documented much than 14,000 Ukrainian children forced into adoption successful Russia.

Before leaving Poland, helium met with the leaders of the Bucharest 9, the countries comprising the eastbound flank of the NATO alliance, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The leaders agreed to proceed enactment for the war-weary country.

The caller U.S. assistance backing Friday is done the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Rather than straight nonstop equipment, arsenic is done successful a statesmanlike drawdown, garnering the resources done the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative allows for the authorization of contracts to procure the needed weaponry and tools.