“Biden spoke today with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko regarding the situation in the east, additional non-lethal US security assistance to Ukraine, and new sanctions on Russian-backed separatists and their supporters,” the release read.
According to the statement, Biden expressed his concerns over the ceasefire violations.
“The Vice President noted with concern the ongoing violations of the ceasefire by Russia-backed separatists near Donetsk and Mariupol and their refusal to allow OSCE monitors unfettered access to the territory they occupy,” the statement said.
The Associated Press reported on Wednesday that the United States will provide Ukraine with Raven drones systems, 30 heavily armored Humvees, 200 regular Humvees, radios, counter-mortar radars.
The United States has been assisting Ukraine with economic and non-lethal military support since the Kiev government began a military operation against the independence fighters in Eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian leaders have also asked their Western partners for lethal arms supplies.
Last December, US Congress passed a $350-million package to supply Kiev with weapons, military equipment and provide training to its military in the three coming years. However, the bill has not been enacted by US President Barack Obama yet.
While talks on the delivery of lethal weapons to Ukrainians are still underway in the United States, a number of European countries, including Germany and France refused to supply Kiev with weaponry.
