Biden announces $625 million in military aid for Ukraine

The total aid sent to Ukraine by the US since the start of the invasion on February 24 is now more than $16.8 billion

US President Joe Biden told his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday that another $625 million in military assistance, including four HIMARS multiple rocket launchers, is on the way, the White House said.

Biden pledged "a new $625 million security assistance package that includes additional weapons and equipment, including HIMARS, artillery systems and ammunition, and armored vehicles," the statement said.

Ukraine already has 16 of the HIMARS systems, which are widely seen as one of the most effective tools in its arsenal as the pro-Western country fights back against a massive eight-month-old Russian invasion.

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Biden reaffirmed that his administration will "continue supporting Ukraine as it defends itself from Russian aggression for as long as it takes."

He said "the United States will never recognize Russia's purported annexation" of another four Ukrainian regions.

The State Department said the total in aid sent to Ukraine since the start of the invasion on February 24 is now more than $16.8 billion.

The latest package includes:

-- Four High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) and ammunition

-- 16 155mm Howitzers

-- 75,000 155mm artillery rounds, 500 precision-guided 155mm artillery rounds, 1,000 155mm rounds of Remote Anti-Armor Mine (RAAM) Systems

-- 16 105mm Howitzers

-- 30,000 120mm mortar rounds

-- 200 MaxxPro Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles

-- 200,000 rounds of small arms ammunition