Biden pledged to provide Ukraine with more weapons following the Russian shelling.

US President Joe Biden issued a statement following yet another massive attack on Ukraine by Russian forces on Christmas morning.

“The aim of this outrageous assault is to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity and to disrupt the security of their energy system,” Biden stated in a statement published on the White House website.

“In recent months, the United States has provided Ukraine with hundreds of missiles for air defense systems, and more are on the way. I have directed the Department of Defense to continue increasing arms supplies to Ukraine, and the US will tirelessly work to strengthen Ukraine's positions and its defense against Russian troops,” the statement read.

On Friday, Reuters reported that the US is preparing to send Ukraine a military aid package worth $1.2 billion. This could be one of the final steps taken by the Biden administration to support Kyiv before Donald Trump's return to the White House.

The assistance will be sent under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI). This means that military equipment is procured from the defense industry or partners rather than taken from American stockpiles, and its delivery may take months or even years, Reuters notes.

Additionally, on December 12, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the US is allocating a military aid package worth $500 million to Kyiv. This will include munitions for HIMARS, anti-tank weapons, drones, counter-drone measures, and other military equipment. This assistance will be drawn from Pentagon reserves.