- The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,’ according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation
- Invading Russian forces closed in on Kyiv on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases
- A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, according to two American officials
- This came after a video showed him in his military tent drinking coffee with his men, he personally coordinated the defense of Kyiv
- Later in the evening, Biden authorized the release of $350million of military assistance to Ukraine after taking his latest weekend break to Delaware
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told President Joe Biden ‘I need ammunition, not a ride,’ when offered the chance of a US-backed evacuation from Ukraine.
Zelenskyy said in response to the offer of refuge: ‘The fight is here; I need ammunition, not a ride,’ according to a senior American intelligence official with direct knowledge of the conversation, who described Zelenskyy as upbeat.
He spoke as Biden authorized the release of $350million of military assistance to Ukraine after taking his latest weekend break to Delaware as Russian troops began to invade Kyiv.
Invading Russian forces closed in on Ukraine´s capital on Saturday, in an apparent encircling movement after a barrage of airstrikes on cities and military bases around the country.
A second Russian Ilyushin Il-76 military transport plane was shot down near Bila Tserkva, 50 miles south of Kyiv, according to two American officials with direct knowledge of conditions on the ground in Ukraine.
Earlier, Zelenskyy said in a televised speech: ‘This night they will launch an assault. The enemy will use all of their power on all fronts to break our defense. This night we have to stand ground. The fate of Ukraine is being decided now.’
This came after a video showed him in his military tent drinking coffee with his men, he personally coordinated the defense of Kyiv.
He spoke Saturday morning in Kyiv, saying: ‘There’s a lot of fake news online that I called on our army to lay down arms, & that there’s evacuation. I’m here. We will defend our state.’
The president’s handouts, shared on Friday evening, stipulated that $350million is made available to Ukraine ‘in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown.’
A further $250million will be offered ‘in assistance without regard to any provision of law’.
On Friday night, Biden traveled home to Delaware for a weekend break as Ukraine burns after Russia invaded and the United States was condemned for appearing weak.
The president and First Lady Jill Biden were snapped exiting the White House on Friday evening to board their Marine One helicopter as Europe faces its biggest conflict since World War Two.
President Biden, 79, and First Lady Biden, 70, donned their customary face masks, even though both are vaccinated and boosted, and the CDC itself has indicated that the time to lift almost all mandates has come.
Biden has access to technology that allows him to work from his luxury home in Rehoboth Beach, and will be following the latest developments in Ukraine from there.
But critics will likely ask whether Biden should remain at the White House to help project the power and authority that comes with his office during a time that has left many across the United States and the wider world fearful for their safety.
The United States has imposed a raft of punitive financial sanctions against Russia in a bid to try and deter Vladimir Putin from continuing to invade Ukraine.
But thus far, the Russian premier – whose personal fortune has been estimated by Forbes to sit at $200 billion – has not been deterred.
The US has provided Ukraine with considerable military hardware, and thus far President Volodymyr Zelensky’s forces appear to have slowed the Russian onslaught.
But Kremlin troops had entered Ukraine in the early hours of Saturday morning, and it is feared the capital city could fall to Putin later on Saturday.
Pentagon efforts to try and stop the war from flaring were slick, but ultimately unsuccessful.
US intelligence on Russian troops’ movements ahead of the invasion was shared far more freely than normal, in an attempt to spook Putin.
America also warned of the sanctions Russia would face if Putin did invade, but the image-obsessed Russian leader ultimately decided to plow on anyway.
Daily Mail
