The United States responded Friday to a Russian warning against arming Ukraine by offering a further $400 million in security assistance, as President Joe Biden hosted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in a show of unity against Moscow.
The head of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group meanwhile said its forces had “practically encircled” the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, which has seen the fiercest fighting of Moscow’s invasion.Western military aid for Ukraine has been key to Kyiv’s ability to hold out against Moscow’s military onslaught and to even regain ground, but the Kremlin said such assistance will only “prolong the conflict and have sad consequences for the Ukrainian people.”
Arms deliveries “place a significant burden on the economies of these countries and negatively affect the well-being of citizens of these countries, including Germany,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Washington ignored that warning, announcing the new security packagefor Kyiv that featured ammunition, including for the Himars precisionrocket system that Ukrainian forces have used to devastating effectagainst Russian troops and supply dumps.
In a display of partnership after friction over supplying tanks to Ukraine, Biden hosted Scholz at the White House for his first trip to Washington since Russia’s invasion.
When they last met, “Russia was amassing its troops” on the border,Biden said in brief remarks to the press, adding the West had vowed torespond and “together we made good on that promise.”
In reply, Scholz said it was important to send a message to Ukrainethat “we will continue to (support it) as long as it takes and as longas it necessary.”
The absence of a joint press conference raised questions aboutremaining difficulties, but the two leaders tried to dispel thatimpression, and Scholz said the bilateral relationship was “in a verygood shape.”
In another show of support for Ukraine, US Attorney General MerrickGarland made a surprise visit to the country on Friday to attend aconference on justice and war crimes.
“The attorney general held several meetings and reaffirmed ourdetermination to hold Russia accountable for crimes committed in itsunjust and unprovoked invasion against its sovereign neighbor,” aJustice Department official said.
Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin said in a video released on TelegramFriday that the group’s units “have practically surrounded Bakhmut,only one road remains” to be captured.
The 61-year-old has regularly posted about the advances of Wagner, hisonce-shadowy force that has taken center stage in the fight in easternUkraine.
He has said in recent weeks that his fighters have seized threevillages north of Bakhmut – Yagidne, Berkhivka and Paraskoviivka.
Ukraine has said it will defend “fortress Bakhmut” for as long aspossible, but this week officials said the situation was difficult.
Russia is determined to seize Bakhmut – a now-destroyed city onceknown for its sparkling wine – as part of its wider aim of capturingthe entire Donetsk region.
Ukrainian troops have held out for months, fighting brutal trenchwarfare and artillery battles that have flattened large portions ofthe city, and President Volodymyr Zelensky this week said that thefighting was “only increasing.”
His comments followed an assessment from the commander of Ukraine’s ground forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, who said it was “extremely tense” inthe city.
