President Joe Biden speaks at POET Bioprocessing in Menlo, Iowa, Tuesday, 12 April 2022

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       President Joe Biden speaks at POET Bioprocessing in Menlo, Iowa, Tuesday, 12 April 2022

       (Associated Press)

       US will provide Ukraine with “new capabilities”, including artillery systems and rounds, armoured personnel carriers, and helicopters as part of a $800m defence assistance package meant to help Ukraine fend off intensified Russian attacks in the Donbas region, president Joe Biden has said.

       In a statement, Mr Biden said he informed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the forthcoming arms shipments during a Wednesday videoconference between the two leaders.

       Mr Biden said: “The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect. As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself,” Mr Biden said.

       Meanwhile, Mr Biden has described the actions of Vladimir Putin’s army in Ukraine as “genocide” for the first time. In remarks in Iowa concerning gas prices, the president said: “Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank — none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away.”

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       Key Points Biden says Putin trying to ‘wipe out’ Ukraine with acts of ‘genocide’ Biden authorises ‘new capabilities’ for Ukrainian forces Biden’s approval rating hits its lowest with 33 per cent in new poll

       Show latest update 1649914227 Biden says Putin trying to ‘wipe out’ Ukraine with acts of ‘genocide’

       Joe Biden has said that Russia’s war in Ukraine amounts to “genocide” as he accused Vladimir Putin of trying to “wipe out the idea of even being a Ukrainian”.

       The US president added that “more evidence” is coming out about all the “horrible things” Russian forces are doing across the nation.

       He said: “I called it genocide because it has become clearer and clearer that Putin is just trying to wipe out the idea of being able to be Ukrainian. We’re only going to learn more and more about the devastation.”

       Maroosha Muzaffar 14 April 2022 06:30

       1649913013 Biden authorises ‘new capabilities’ for Ukrainian forces

       President Joe Biden informed Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky that the US will provide Ukrainian defence forces with “new capabilities” including artillery systems and rounds, armoured personnel carriers, and helicopters as part of an $800m defence assistance package meant to help Kyiv.

       “This new package of assistance will contain many of the highly effective weapons systems we have already provided and new capabilities tailored to the wider assault we expect Russia to launch in eastern Ukraine,” the president said.

       Read the full story here:

       Biden authorises ‘new capabilities’ for Ukrainian forces in latest assistance package ‘The Ukrainian military has used the weapons we are providing to devastating effect. As Russia prepares to intensify its attack in the Donbas region, the United States will continue to provide Ukraine with the capabilities to defend itself’

       Maroosha Muzaffar 14 April 2022 06:10