US President Joe Biden lost his temper with Volodymyr Zelenskyy in June during a phone conversation when he asked for more military aid, NBC News reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the call.
According to the article, whenever the US announces new aid packages for Ukraine, Biden calls Zelenskyy regularly.
According to the story, just as Biden was about to inform Zelenskyy that he had approved an additional USD 1 billion in military aid for Ukraine, his counterpart began requesting additional support that Kyiv desperately needs but isn’t receiving. Biden shouted at Zelenskyy, telling him to “Show a little more gratitude.”
According to the sources, Biden’s discontent with Zelenskyy had been growing for weeks before the phone call on June 15. They claimed that while the US president and some of his advisers believed that Washington was acting as soon and as completely as possible, Zelenskyy continued to focus public attention exclusively on what was not being done.
Zelenskyy publicly gave a video message thanking Biden for the help and calming the situation after being rejected during the call in June. “I had an important conversation with US President Biden today,” NBC quoted Ukraine’s president in videotaped remarks. “I am grateful for this support. It is especially important for our defense in Donbas.”
Particularly since the Russia-Ukraine crisis broke out on February 24, the United States has played a significant role in providing security support to Ukraine. This information regarding the phone call between Biden and Zelenskyy came two days after the United States pledged an additional USD 275 million in military aid for Ukraine.
Statement Issued by US state department
The US State Department stated in a statement that “this pullback will bring the overall US military support for Ukraine to an unprecedented level of more than USD 18.5 billion since the beginning of the Administration.” According to a Congressional Research Service report, the United States sent Ukraine more of its previously donated weaponry in 2022 in addition to more modern defense equipment.
According to the Pentagon, US security support to Ukraine includes Mi-17 helicopters, Stinger anti-aircraft systems, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and Javelin anti-armour systems. Other cutting-edge technologies, including fighter jets, anti-ship weapons, and more air defense and anti-missile capabilities, have been sought after by Ukrainian officials.