The US State Department said Wednesday that America sent long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for use inside its territory, and the weapons arrived in the country this month.
"I can confirm that the United States provided Ukraine with long-range ATACMS at the president's direct direction," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
But the details on ATACMS came on the same day Biden signed the bill to provide $61 billion in new aid for Ukraine.
US will start sending military aid to Ukraine within hours: Joe BidenUnited States President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Apr 24) signed legislation authorising military aid for Ukraine for its fight against Ukraine.
Kyiv claimed that it was in desperate need of military aid amid Russian aggression.
The US State Department said Wednesday that America sent long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine for use inside its territory, and the weapons arrived in the country this month.
"I can confirm that the United States provided Ukraine with long-range ATACMS at the president's direct direction," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters.
The Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS) were part of a March aid package for Ukraine, not the one just approved by Congress and signed by Biden. But the details on ATACMS came on the same day Biden signed the bill to provide $61 billion in new aid for Ukraine.
US will start sending military aid to Ukraine within hours: Joe Biden
United States President Joe Biden on Wednesday (Apr 24) signed legislation authorising military aid for Ukraine for its fight against Ukraine. Biden said that Washington would start sending military aid to the war-torn nation within hours.
The US president signed the bill into law after the US Senate voted on Tuesday to approve $95 billion in aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. The bill was passed after months of delay that saw Ukrainian forces run short of ammunition. Kyiv claimed that it was in desperate need of military aid amid Russian aggression.
"I just signed into law the national security package that was passed by the House of Representatives this weekend, and by the Senate yesterday," Biden told reports.
Watch: Antony Blinken in China: US Secretary of State to discuss key issues with top Chinese officials He added that he is "making sure the shipments start right away, in the next few hours." "It's going to make America safer, it's going to make the world safer and it continues American leadership in the world and everyone knows it," Biden said of the legislation. "It gives vital support to America's partners so they can defend themselves against threats to their sovereignty and to the lives and freedoms of their citizens." After Biden's remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his US counterpart. On social media, Zelensky said, "The six-month journey has been overcome. No matter what anyone says, we are getting the needed support -- we need it to continue to protect lives from Russian attacks. We will do everything to compensate for the six months that have passed in debate and doubt." (With inputs from agencies)
