US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in Washington on December 21, 2023. (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

During their meeting at the White House, Zelenskiy thanked Biden for a new military aid package of weaponry and air defenses and said he and Biden agreed on specific steps to expand the export of grain from Ukraine.

Biden said the first American Abrams tanks will be delivered to Ukraine next week and Washington would also send Ukraine a second Raytheon-built Hawk air defense battery and related equipment.

The US has sent some 113 billion USD in security and humanitarian aid to help Zelenskiy's government since the Ukraine-Russia conflict broke out in February 2022.