Victorious news of 362nd day of war: Biden is in Kyiv, and King Charles meets Ukrainian military

Espreso TV has made a selection of news that brings Ukraine closer to victory over the Russian enemy.

Biden announces a new military aid package in Kyiv 

On February 20, the US President arrived in Kyiv to announce another shipment of artillery ammunition, anti-tank systems, and air surveillance radars to Ukraine. 

He said that the United States, along with more than 50 countries, had provided over 700 tanks, thousands of armored vehicles, artillery systems, and ammunition, as well as humanitarian, economic, and military aid to Ukraine.

Biden noted that this list does not include a new $2.5 billion aid package to be announced today: "There will be additional ammunition for HIMARS and artillery, additional systems that will protect the Ukrainian people from bombing."

In addition, Biden promised to announce additional sanctions against Russian elites and companies this week. 

By the way, US President Joe Biden was offered a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the border with Poland or in Lviv, but he chose to come to Kyiv.

Billions of euros for Ukraine's recovery from the IMF and Japan

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida announced the government's intention to allocate another $5.5 billion to Ukraine to restore infrastructure damaged by the Russian occupiers. Kishida said he would invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the G7 online summit on the first anniversary of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The aid from the European Union (17.4 million euros) will be used for the digitalization of Ukraine. According to Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov, Kyiv will work on the Digital Technologies for Ukraine (DT4UA) project together with the Estonian Academy of Electronic Governance. The project will help digitize more services and improve the Diia. DT4UA will also help to strengthen data exchange between registries, improve e-identification, and develop an e-governance system to ensure that criminal cases are handled transparently.

In addition, France has called on the IMF to allocate another €15 billion to support Ukraine. French Minister of Economy and Finance Bruno Le Maire noted that the funds should be allocated to support Ukraine over four years.

"We are working on an IMF program for Ukraine, which could amount to almost 15 billion euros over four years. In addition to the support provided by Europe, in addition to the support provided by the G7 countries, it is important that the IMF mobilizes its efforts for Ukraine," he said.

More air defense systems and missiles from partners

Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov explained the recent announcement that Ukraine will be able to better repel enemies in the sky. Ukraine's allies have promised to increase the number of air defense systems.

"The partners have committed to increasing the number of air defense systems – those that are already in place, but there will be more, along with missiles. Out of respect for the partners, I am not naming which ones, because they want to tell us themselves. I can say that this will significantly increase the level of protection of our skies. Perhaps by February 24, the partners will make some announcements," the minister said. 

Reznikov said that it is now known about the delivery of Patriot air defense missile systems – one from the United States, another from Germany, launchers and missiles from the Netherlands. 

At the same time, on February 20, the Ukrainian aviation, even with old stocks of weapons, managed to carry out 16 strikes on the areas where Russian personnel were concentrated. They also targeted the occupiers' military equipment and struck an enemy anti-aircraft missile system at a firing position, according to the evening report of the General Staff.

King Charles III meets with Ukrainian soldiers at the exercises in the UK

King Charles III of the United Kingdom met with Ukrainian soldiers who are currently training in southwestern England with British and international partners.

According to the official release, the King was accompanied by the Chief of the General Staff, General Sir Patrick Sanders. They watched the Ukrainian military practicing an attack on enemy positions.

"The course for Ukrainian troops lasts for 35 days and provides them with essential teachings focused on lethality and survivability. Most of the recruits taking part in the course have little to no military experience, so learning these skills is particularly important to them," the British newspaper Express said.

According to the publication, the King also had the opportunity to talk to some Ukrainian soldiers. Through the training provided in the UK to Ukrainian troops, 10,000 soldiers were brought to battle readiness in the last six months.