The United States is showing its support for Ukraine by sending US$75 million worth of equipment and supplies to the country, which is currently besieged by Russian-back separatists.

The aid package set to be brought to Ukraine includes radios, un-manned aerial vehicles, counter mortar radars, night vision devices, first aid kits, ambulances and other medical supplies. Around 200 unarmed Humvees and 30 others with armors on board, will also roll off into Ukraine's streets from the U.S.

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The arrival of the donations comes amid Ukraine and the Western countries' report that Russia continues to deploy troops and weapons to Eastern Ukraine to help the separatists. Russia has denied the accusation, saying it is abiding by the casefire agreement reached in Minsk last February 12.

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden placed a telephone call to Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to inform him about the aid package.

In a statement, the White House said, "The Vice President noted with concern the ongoing violations of the ceasefire by Russia-backed separatists."

Aside from announcing the aid delivery, the United States has also imposed sanctions on eight Ukrainian separatists including Roman Lyagin, who claims he does not join in combats against Ukranian troops.

"It's the opposite. I do my best to stop the bloodshed," he says.

Lyagin is based in the Ukraine city of Donetsk, which is currently under the control of Russian separatists. He has been tagged by the United States as among those who are preventing the holding of Ukraine elections in May.

The United States has also put sanctions on a Moscow-registered bank - the Russian National Commercial Bank (RNCB). The bank is the first Russian bank to set up a branch Crimea, after the peninsula was suddenly annexed by Russia.

However, the RNCB is just brushing off the U.S. sanctions.

Its bank officials say, the sanctions do not threaten the bank's activities because it does not have assets in the U.S.

Tagsweapons aid, U.S., Ukraine aid, Ukraine crisis, Russia, pro-Russia separatists, Sanctions