WASHINGTON (Dispatches) -- President Biden’s administration is expected to approve an additional $750 million in military assistance to Ukraine that will include Howitzer artillery, U.S. media reports said Wednesday.
It’s not clear precisely when Biden plans to announce the new assistance. The new assistance comes as Ukrainian leaders are pleading for more military help in their war with Russia.
Russia has pulled back troops from Kiev. U.S. and Ukrainian officials say they anticipate Russia will now focus its attention on southern and eastern areas of Ukraine.
The new $750 million in assistance is on top of $1.7 billion in security assistance provided by the U.S. since Russia launched its assault on Ukraine on Feb. 24 and the $2.4 billion since the beginning of the Biden administration.
The Department of Defense last week said it has provided the Ukrainians with thousands of pieces of anti-aircraft and anti-armor munitions, including Stinger and Javelin missiles; hundreds of Switchblade drones, which act as remote-controlled missiles; laser-guided rocket systems; and 50 million rounds of ammunition.
The administration has also sent Ukrainian forces detection equipment to warn against an alleged chemical weapons attack, personal protective equipment and medical supplies to treat potential victims.
Congress approved $13.6 billion in Ukraine-related assistance as part of a massive government funding bill signed into law in March.
In addition to providing military assistance to Ukraine, the U.S. and its allies have also ratcheted up sanctions on Russian banks and officials in response to Moscow’s “special operation” that began almost seven weeks ago.
Biden has also escalated his rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of committing genocide in Ukraine during a speech in Iowa on Tuesday.
“It’s become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of being Ukrainian,” Biden told reporters following the event, elaborating on his comments. “The evidence is mounting.”
In a terse warning to countries that have rebuffed Washington’s calls to condemn Russia’s military operation, a senior U.S. government on Wednesday said they would face the consequences.
U.S. treasury secretary Janet Yellen said Washington and its allies “will not be indifferent” to countries that have shied away from condemning Russia’s operation in the former Soviet republic.
While she stopped short of naming any country, Yellen’s remarks ostensibly were directed at the key regional ally, India, which has continued its trade with Russia in defiance of persistent U.S. warnings.
The Biden administration has through multiple channels conveyed its deep reservations to the Modi-led government in New Delhi on the issue but to no avail.
“Rest assured, until (Vladimir) Putin ends his heinous war of choice, the Biden Administration will work with our partners to push Russia further towards economic, financial, and strategic isolation,” Yellen said at an event organized by the Atlantic Council Think Char.
Without naming India or any other ally, Yellen said the countries that are taking advantage of the situation and maintaining close ties with Russia are fence-sitters and shortsighted.
“While many countries have taken a unified stand against Russia’s actions and many companies have quickly and voluntarily severed business relationships with Russia, some countries and companies have not,” she said.
“Let me now say a few words to those countries who are currently