President Joe Biden condemned Russia’s missile attacks in Ukraine and vowed that the United States will continue to impose costs on Moscow.
“The United States strongly condemns Russia’s missile strikes today across Ukraine, including in Kyiv. These attacks killed and injured civilians and destroyed targets with no military purpose,” Biden said in a statement.
The United States has provided more than $16 billion worth of security assistance to Ukraine and has imposed crippling economic sanctions since Russia’s invasion in February.
Biden pledged to continue to support Ukraine amid Putin’s escalation.
“These attacks only further reinforce our commitment to stand with the people of Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Biden says in the statement. “Alongside our allies and partners, we will continue to impose costs on Russia for its aggression, hold Putin and Russia accountable for its atrocities and war crimes, and provide the support necessary for Ukrainian forces to defend their country and their freedom.”
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken also reiterated the US’ commitment to supporting Ukraine following the missile strikes in a statement on Monday.
“We will continue to provide unwavering economic, humanitarian, and security assistance so Ukraine can defend itself and take care of its people,” Blinken wrote in a tweet.
Russia launched 75 missiles towards Ukraine overnight, targeting civilians and major cities. General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said the country’s air defense systems neutralized 41 of them.
The Associated Press reported that at least eight people were killed and 24 were injured in one of the strikes in the capital city of Kyiv. It marks the first time Ukraine’s capital was attacked since June.
