Russia’s Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu warned that the Kremlin will intensify attacks on Western weapons stored in Ukraine.
“We will increase the intensity of attacks on logistics centers and storage bases for Western weapons,” Shoigu said Tuesday, according to Russian state-owned outlet RIA Novosti.
The warning from Shoigu came just as the House passed the $95 billion foreign aid package over the weekend and cleared the Senate on Tuesday night. It is now on its way to President Biden’s desk to be signed.
The aid for embattled U.S. allies includes $26 billion for Israel and for humanitarian aid in Gaza, $8 billion for Taiwan and additional U.S. allies in the Indo-Pacific and about $61 billion for Ukraine.
“I will sign this bill into law and address the American people as soon as it reaches my desk tomorrow so we can begin sending weapons and equipment to Ukraine this week,” Biden said in a statement Tuesday night.
The funding will provide Kyiv with much-needed weapons and reinforcement to fight off Russia’s full-scale invasion that has lasted for more than two years.
Shoigu’s warning comes as the Biden administration is preparing to send a $1 billion weapons package to Ukraine.
The package — larger than the previous $300 million authorized in March — will include Stinger air defense munitions, vehicles, 155 mm artillery ammunition, Javelin antitank munitions, TOW and additional ammunition for artillery rocket systems,Reuters reported, citing two U.S. officials.
“The need is urgent: for Ukraine, facing unrelenting bombardment from Russia; for Israel, which just faced unprecedented attacks from Iran; for refugees and those impacted by conflicts and natural disasters around the world, including in Gaza, Sudan, and Haiti; and for our partners seeking security and stability in the Indo-Pacific,” Biden said in a statement.