On Wednesday, Biden condemned the latest assault by Russia on Ukraine, labeling the barrage of missiles and drones as “outrageous.” He stated, “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.”
He emphasized the need for the United States and the international community to support Ukraine until it prevails against Russian aggression, asserting, “Let me be clear: the Ukrainian people deserve to live in peace and safety.”
In the early hours of Wednesday, Russia launched an offensive against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, utilizing 78 missiles and 106 Shahed drones, according to the Ukrainian air force. This attack resulted in damage to equipment and widespread power outages.
This marks the 13th instance of Russia targeting Ukraine’s energy system, as reported by DTEK, the largest private energy firm in Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized the assault as “inhumane.”
Zelensky expressed his outrage on the social platform X, stating, “Today, Putin deliberately chose Christmas for an attack. 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 military equipment already provided to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began in 2022, adding 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,” he affirmed.
Trump has been critical of U.S. assistance to Ukraine for an extended period. He has proposed the idea of a negotiated settlement between Kyiv and Moscow and has promised to bring the conflict to a swift conclusion.
During their first conversation in four years, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed willingness to meet with the incoming president to discuss possible resolutions. Retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s appointee for special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, also condemned the Christmas Day assault.
He remarked on X, “Christmas should be a time of peace, yet Ukraine was brutally attacked on Christmas Day.” Kellogg added, “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.”
