Joe Biden approves more military aid as Ukrainian counterpart visits Washington

US President Joe Biden pledged to his visiting Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky to offer military aid, mentioning in particular the Patriot surface-to-air missile battery he just approved for Ukraine in a new tranche of security assistance totaling $1.85 billion.

The weapons package approved by Biden, according to a list from the Pentagon, also included "precision aerial munitions", which it didn't explain in detail regarding the type and quantity, reports Xinhua news agency.

According to US media reports, they might be the so-called "Joint Direct Attack Munitions," which would transform the unguided "dumb" bombs into "smart" bombs by the addition of fins and a precision guidance system.

Arriving in the US Wednesday for a visit, his first trip abroad since Russia launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Zelensky told Biden he wished to "come earlier" but was unable to because of the once difficult situation in his war-torn nation that has now been under control.

Although Zelensky was effusive in his praise for Biden, he didn't mince words when it came to the Patriot battery -- the most advanced weapon system the US has offered and something Zelensky has long asked for.

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