Yermak asks US for more heavy weapons to defend against Russian 'barbarians'

OLENA ROSHCHINA - WEDNESDAY, 13 APRIL 2022, 10:10 A.M.

Ukraine is grateful to the United States for its assistance, but would like more heavy weapons to defend itself against Russia's army amid expectations of a more violent offensive.

Source: Andrii Yermak, head of the President's Office, on Twitter

According to Yermak: "`We're grateful for all the US assistance so far. But we need the Lend-Lease-like program, more heavy weapons to defend and prevent further Russian barbarism."

Details: Yermak also thanked US President Joseph Biden for his assessment of Russia's crimes in Ukraine: "True leader tells true things. Thanks @POTUS for clear explanation of nature of the atrocities the Russians commit in Ukraine and the Kremlin's reasons behind them."

Background: on 12 April, US President Joe Biden said that Americans should not suffer because "[a] dictator declares war and commits genocide". In doing so, this was the first time he had called the actions of the Russians in the war against Ukraine genocide.

On 6 April, the US Senate unanimously passed an important bill to renew a World War II programme that would allow President Joe Biden to more effectively send weapons and other supplies to Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.

Synopsis: The Lend-Lease programme was originally a system by which the US partly donated ammunition, equipment, food and strategic raw materials, including petroleum products, to its World War II allies. The US has authorised a second Lend-Lease programme in 2022 to help Ukraine.

Find out more: Lend-Lease from the US: new rules for arms transfers to Ukraine