Clashes between Ukrainian forces and separatists backed by the Russian government have heated up in recent weeks, undermining a cease-fire agreement reached last year. Russia has built up its forces on the border with Ukraine, raising fears that the conflict could escalate into a major crisis. While President Joe Biden warned Putin that the U.S. would “act with determination” to defend Ukraine and called on Russia to ease tensions, the Biden administration has withheld $150 million in military aid to Ukraine.
But American Greatness reported Tuesday, April 13, that Biden’s withholding of Ukrainian military aid was part of a congressional approval to pressure the country to “make sufficient progress on important defense reforms this year.
The Pentagon said, “The Department of Defense encourages Ukraine to continue reforms to strengthen civilian control of the military, promote greater transparency and accountability in the defense industry and procurement, and modernize the defense sector in other key areas in accordance with NATO principles and standards.”
The White House and Kremlin simultaneously issued statements reaffirming the “strong commitment” of the United States to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, while hoping to normalize relations with Russia and willing to cooperate with Russia on issues such as arms control and Iran’s nuclear program.
But neither the White House nor the Kremlin statement mentioned Putin’s response.
In response to the massive Russian troop increase on the Russian-Ukrainian border, the U.S. government sent two warships to the Black Sea this week.
Before Biden’s call to Putin, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov made a strong statement that the United States is Russia’s enemy and warned U.S. troops to stay away from Crimea and the Black Sea.
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