U.S. President Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Friday to discuss continued support in the country's war with Russia, the White House said.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin answered a plea from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for more help to keep Russian warplanes away from its cities and borders with a $500 million package of fresh military aid.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden's administration on Friday renewed deportation relief that currently covers 900,000 immigrants from Venezuela, El Salvador, Ukraine and Sudan, a move that would delay any attempts by President-elect Donald Trump to sunset those protections.

Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, has blocked an air defence package worth €3 billion (£2.5 billion) for Ukraine in one of his last key decisions before the election, according to German media reports.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin used their final meeting in Germany to press the incoming Trump administration not to give up on Kyiv’s fight.

The Biden administration has announced the final tranche of military aid it will send to Ukraine, amounting to about $500 million.

If Ukraine falls, it will be hard to spin as anything but a debacle for the United States, and for its president.

The U.S. is set to provide Ukraine an additional $500 million in weapons quickly pulled from its existing stockpiles as the Biden administration works to get Kyiv in a stronger negotiating position before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.

At the event, Ukraine presented various drones, including the Shrike and Vampire, that are used in combat against Russia. On October 19, 2023, Shrike drones attacked a Russian convoy. A total of 35 drones were deployed, destroying eight tanks and four infantry fighting vehicles valued at $19 million.

The White House seized a rare chance to undermine Russia and build up regional allies as it built a coalition to support the Ukrainians.