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US reserves funds for Kiev in case of escalation at Russia-Ukraine border - White House

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki called nonsense the idea that they have held back security assistance to Ukraine

White House Dmitry Kirsanov/TASS

White House

© Dmitry Kirsanov/TASS

WASHINGTON, June 19. /TASS/. The United States has prepared contingency funds to help Ukraine in case of a possible escalation at its national border with Russia, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

"The idea that we have held back security assistance to Ukraine is nonsense," the statement from Psaki reads. "Just last week - in the run-up to the US-Russia Summit - we provided a $150 million package of security assistance, including lethal assistance."

"We have now provided the entire amount appropriated by Congress through the Ukraine security assistance initiative," she continued.

"We have also prepared contingency funds in the event of a further Russian incursion into Ukraine," according to the statement.

"As President [Joe] Biden told President [Vladimir] Putin directly, we will stand unwavering in support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity," Psaki added in her statement.

The summit between Presidents Vladimir Putin of Russia and Joe Biden of the United States took place at the Villa La Grange in Geneva on June 16.

Kremlin Spokesman Dmitry Peskov told the Ekho Moskvy radio station on Thursday that the Russian troop movements near the Ukrainian border were mentioned at the summit of Russian and US presidents in Geneva but no accusations were ever made at the highest level.

US-based daily Politico reported earlier that "The Biden White House has temporarily halted a military aid package to Ukraine that would include lethal weapons, a plan originally made in response to aggressive Russian troop movements along Ukraine’s border this spring. The aid package would be worth up to $100 million, according to four people familiar with internal deliberations.".

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Hungarian PM highlights need to lift sanctions on Russia once Ukraine conflict is resolved

Viktor Obran added, however, that only a couple of EU countries shared Hungary’s position

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"The enemy lost up to 285 troops, two armored combat vehicles, two motor vehicles, a D-30 122 mm howitzer, a US-made M119 105 mm howitzers and five field ammunition depots," the ministry added

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Prime minister underscored that, "the more serious the problems in Europe are, the more decisively the economic relations in all other markets should be promoted"

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Ahmed al-Sharaa also said he will not "tolerate uncontrolled arms trafficking" across the country

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Alexander Stepanov emphasized that both Kiev and its Western allies are closely scrutinizing the consequences of the strike on the plant

Georgian president demands appointing snap elections within week

Salome Zourabichvili also promised to announce her further plans on Monday

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Victor Orban also said that hopes for the development of economic cooperation with the United States after President-elect Donald Trump takes office

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US Navy cruiser mistakenly downs F/A-18 fighter over Red Sea

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Demostenes Floros also drew attention to the growing potential of the ever-expanding domestic market and mentioned new ways of using natural gas in the future - for example, for the production of hydrogen and ammonia, necessary for the energy transition and agriculture (in production of fertilizers)

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Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov also informed of the death of the deputy commander of the army corps for military-political work, Colonel Yevgeny Brovko, who led the efforts of the personnel

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Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova emphasized that the rhetoric about "inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia" is firmly rooted in the mentality of the NATO regimes not at all as hypothetical assumptions

Civilian industrial complex supplies Russian army with over 65 types of units — top brass

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Musk believes Germany’s Scholz should step down after car drives into crowd in Magdeburg

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Ukraine’s General Staff admits tense situation along entire frontline

The Ukrainian military also admitted the Russian army’s supremacy in terms of military equipment and the size of personnel

Three of eight drones that attacked Kazan targeted defense industry facilities — head

The Tatarstan head Rustam Minnikhanov also noted that all operational services worked well when dealing with the aftermath of the drone attack

Response to Ukrainian attack on Russia’s Rylsk to come shortly — Russia’s UN envoy

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No injuries or damage were reported

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Russian troops liberate two communities in Donbass area, Kharkov Region over past day

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Ukrainian troops struggling to escape being trapped in Lozovaya in Kharkov region — expert

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Strike on SBU control center response to Russian general’s assassination, expert says

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Putin’s talks with visiting Slovak PM over — Kremlin spokesman

Dmitry Peskov added that it is not planned to issue any joint statements

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Russia to retaliate against Ukrainian strikes, just as Putin said — Kremlin

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Civilian manufacturers ramp up drone production to 40,000 units per month

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