Psaki blasts report of Ukraine military aid holdup as ‘nonsense’

White House press secretary Jen Psaki slammed as “nonsense” a report Friday that the Biden administration had held up a military aid package meant for Ukraine and worth up to $100 million.

Politico, citing “four people familiar with internal deliberations,” reported earlier in the day that officials on the National Security Council put delivery of the aid — which included lethal munitions like anti-tank weapons and small arms — on hold after the Kremlin announced the withdrawal of some Russian troops from positions along the Ukraine border in late April. “The idea that we have held back security assistance to Ukraine is nonsense,” Psaki said in a statement. “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.”