Biden signs memo to give Ukraine 'immediate military assistance'

US President Joe Biden has signed a memorandum to provide up to 600 million dollars (£448 million) in “immediate military assistance” to Ukraine as Kyiv officials warned street fighting was underway against Russian forces in the city, The Independent reports.

Mr Biden’s later memorandum directed Secretary of State Antony Blinken to provide, subject to the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, “immediate military assistance to Ukraine” of up to 250 million dollars (£187 million) “in assistance without regard to any provision of law”. While another 350 million dollars (£261 million) was allocated “in defence articles and services of the Department of Defence, and military education and training”.

Democratic U.S. Senator Chris Coons said earlier on Friday he would support an emergency spending bill of $10 billion or more to address the Ukraine crisis.