President Biden condemned Russia’s recent attack on Ukraine on Wednesday, calling the missile and drone strikes “outrageous.”
“The purpose of this outrageous attack was to cut off the Ukrainian people’s access to heat and electricity during winter and to jeopardize the safety of its grid,” Biden said in a statement.
“Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety, and the United States and the international community must continue to stand with Ukraine until it triumphs over Russia’s aggression,” he added.
Early Wednesday, Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy supplies and infrastructure with 78 missiles and 106 Shahed drones, causing damage and power outages, according to Ukraine’s air force.
This marked Russia’s 13th strike on Ukraine’s energy system, reported DTEK, the nation’s largest private energy company.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the attack “inhumane.”
“Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack,” he wrote on the social platform X. “What could be more inhumane? Over 70 missiles, including ballistic ones, and more than a hundred attack drones. The targets are our energy infrastructure. They continue to fight for a blackout in Ukraine.”
In his statement, Biden highlighted the U.S. equipment already sent to Ukraine since Russia’s 2022 invasion and assured that “more are on the way.”
“I have directed the Department of Defense to continue its surge of weapons deliveries to Ukraine, and the United States will continue to work tirelessly to strengthen Ukraine’s position in its defense against Russian forces.”
President-elect Trump, a long-time critic of U.S. aid to Ukraine, has supported a deal between Kyiv and Moscow and vowed to quickly end the conflict.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed openness to meeting with the incoming president for their first conversation in four years to discuss potential outcomes.
Trump’s pick for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, also condemned the Christmas Day attack.
“Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day,” Kellogg wrote on the social platform X.
“Launching large-scale missile and drone attacks on the day of the Lord’s birth is wrong. The world is closely watching actions on both sides. The U.S. is more resolved than ever to bring peace to the region.”