Biden orders increased weapon supplies to Ukraine after Russian Christmas Eve strikes

US President Joe Biden has condemned Russia’s Christmas Eve missile and drone strikes on Ukraine, describing them as a deliberate attempt to deprive Ukrainians of heat and electricity during the harsh winter.

In a statement published on the White House website, Biden reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to supporting Kyiv against Russian aggression. “The Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and security,” he said. “The United States and the international community must continue to support Ukraine until it defeats Russian aggression.”

The president has directed the Pentagon to further increase the supply of weapons to Ukraine, pledging to work “tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position to defend itself.”

The strikes targeted critical infrastructure across Ukrainian cities, intensifying concerns over civilian hardships as winter grips the region.
The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump also weighed in, with Keith Kellogg, the future special representative for Ukraine, condemning the attack.

“Christmas should be a time of peace, but Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day. A large-scale missile and drone attack on such a day is wrong,” Kellogg wrote on social media.

The comments from Biden and Trump’s transition team signal bipartisan support in the US for aiding Ukraine in its fight against Russia.