Biden administration to send Ukraine $450 million in military aid

By the numbers: The Pentagon said Thursday's announcement was its 13th inventory transfer to Ukraine since August 2021. It will also include:

• 18 tactical vehicles to tow 155mm artillery
• 1,200 grenade launchers
• 2,000 machine guns
• 18 coastal and riverine patrol boats
• Spare parts and other equipment

The big picture: The decision comes about a week after the Biden administration announced $1 billion military aid package to Ukraine.

• The Pentagon said the U.S. has committed $6.1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s unprovoked invasion on Feb. 24
• It also comes as Ukraine and Russia battle for control of two key cities in the eastern Donbas region, Severodonetsk and Lysychansk.
• Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych warned Thursday that the fight for the two cities had reached a "fearsome climax."
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video post Thursday that Russian forces "want to destroy the whole Donbas step by step."

Go deeper: European Union grants candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova