Biden announces $800M more in aid, 'going to support Ukraine as long as it takes'
President Joe Biden at his press conference in Madrid Thursday announced $800 million more in aid for Ukraine, including air defense systems and offensive weapons.
A reporter asked how to explain to the American people a joint statement from Biden and other G-7 leaders Monday that read: "We will continue to provide financial, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support and stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes."

Asked if that meant indefinite support from the U.S., or whether there would be a time support from the U.S. would stop, Biden replied: "We are going to support Ukraine as long as it takes."
"I don't know what -- how it's going to end," Biden added, "But it will not end with a Russian defeat of Ukraine in Ukraine."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said recently that the war needs to end by the winter. But Biden said that, "no," that assessment hadn’t changed his calculation in terms of the pace and kind of assistance the U.S. is sending Ukraine.

Biden was also pressed on record high gas prices that he has attributed to the war in Ukraine. "How long is it fair to expect American drivers and drivers around the world to pay that premium for this war?" he was asked by a reporter.
"As long as it takes," he replied. "Russia cannot, in fact, defeat Ukraine and move beyond Ukraine. This is a critical, critical position for the world."
Biden highlighted his domestic efforts to bring down the price at the pump, like releasing oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, and asking Congress and states to approve a gas tax holiday to help save consumers money at the pump.
"So I think there's a lot of things we can do, and we will do, but the bottom line is ultimately the reason why gas prices are up is because of Russia," he said. "Russia, Russia, Russia. The reason why the food crisis exists is because of Russia. Russia not allowing grain to get out of Ukraine."
-ABC News' Ben Gittleson and Molly Nagle





