The U.S. disclosed $2 billion in aid for Ukraine, boycotts and tariff increases on Russia a year after the invasion

February 27, 2023: On Friday, the U.S. revealed $2 billion in aid to Ukraine on the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion and ramped up sanctions and tariffs on Moscow as it is trying to bolster Kyiv’s war effort.

The weapons package is stated by the Defense Department, which also includes funding for contracts for HIMARS rockets, drones and counter-drone equipment, mine-clearing gadgets, 155-millimetre artillery ammunition and secure lines of communication.

On Friday, President Joe Biden met with leaders of the sideline G-7 and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, marking the occasion one year after the firm first met to discuss aid.

The Biden administration stated that it would sanction over 200 individuals and entities connected to the Russian war effort, which included targeting the metals and mining sector of the country. The U.S. said it would ramp up its controls on Russian goods and surge tariffs on Russian products like metals and minerals.

Biden has been adamant regarding showing the U.S.’s help for Ukraine as the war drags into its second year.

The president visited the country’s capital, Kyiv, on Monday before his trip to Warsaw, Poland, where he delivered a speech marking the anniversary. Biden reaffirmed the U.S.’ commitment to supporting Ukraine, which calls the war an instance of authoritarianism against democracy and decrying actions by Russian forces which Biden stated constitute war crimes.

The Ukraine’s prosecutor general, Andriy Kostin, stated that regional authorities had logged over 65,000 Russian war crimes since Moscow invaded Ukraine almost a year.

Kostin stated that his teams have documented over 14,000 Ukrainian children pressured into adoption in Russia.

Before leaving Poland, he also met with the leaders of the Bucharest 9, the countries which comprise the eastern flank of the NATO alliance, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The leaders agree to continue support for the war-weary country.

On Friday, the new U.S. aid funding through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, has directly sended equipment, as done in a presidential drawdown, which garners the resources through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, permitting the authorization of contracts to procure the required weaponry and tools.