US President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy and pledged to provide the government of Ukraine with $500 million in direct budgetary aid, the White House said on March 30.

During the conversation, the officials discussed the work carried out by the US and its allies to assist Ukraine and to impose ‘several costs’ on Russia for its military aggression.

“The leaders discussed how the United States is working around the clock to fulfill the main security assistance requests by Ukraine, the critical effects those weapons have had on the conflict, and continued efforts by the United States with allies and partners to identify additional capabilities to help the Ukrainian military defend its country,” reads the statement.

In his part, Zelenskyy informed Biden about the ongoing negotiations with Russia.