For nearly three years now, President Joe Biden has been clear that opposing and countering Russia's invasion of Ukraine is a top priority for him and his administration, and that was reaffirmed again this week.

Biden said on Thursday that a major Russian attack targeting Ukraine's power grid confirmed the "urgency" of the situation and the continuing need for the U.S. to support Ukraine's territorial defense, NDTV reported.

The message was perhaps aimed less at convincing Russia to end its invasion of Ukraine and more toward pressuring the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump to stay the course in backing Ukraine's resistance.

"Outrageous" attack marks the "urgency" of continued support for Ukraine

Earlier on Thursday, Ukraine was hit with a massive barrage of Russian missiles and drone attacks that appeared to specifically target Ukraine's power grid and energy infrastructure in and around its major cities, leaving around a million Ukrainians without electricity.

Later that day, in a White House statement, President Biden condemned the "horrific aerial attack" in which Russia "launched nearly 200 missiles and drones against Ukrainian cities and energy infrastructure, depriving Ukrainian civilians of access to electricity."

"This attack is outrageous and serves as yet another reminder of the urgency and importance of supporting the Ukrainian people in their defense against Russian aggression," Biden said.

"On this day, my message to the Ukrainian people is clear: the United States stands with you," he continued. "Earlier this year, and at my direction, the United States began prioritizing air defense exports so they go to Ukraine first. The Department of Defense has delivered hundreds of additional air defense missiles to Ukraine, as a consequence of this decision, and further deliveries are underway."

Biden noted that the U.S. has also provided Ukraine with assistance in strengthening the nation's power grid, as well as "other critical capabilities" like "artillery, rockets, and armored vehicles," and concluded, "Russia continues to underestimate the bravery, resilience, and determination of the Ukrainian people. The United States stands with more than 50 countries in support of Ukraine and its fight for freedom."

Remembering the Holodomor

Just a few days before that, President Biden issued a similar message in a statement of remembrance about the Holodomor in Ukraine in the 1930s, in which the Soviet Union oversaw a "forced and deliberate famine that killed millions of Ukrainians."

In addition to remembering those who died and honoring those who survived, Biden said, "Today, as we mark the solemn anniversary of the Holodomor, we also renew our commitment to stand with the Ukrainian people in their time of need."

"For nearly three years, Russia has been waging a brutal war against the Ukrainian people in an attempt to wipe Ukraine off the map. In this effort, Russia has failed," he continued. "Kyiv stands free, thanks in part to the United States and the more than 50 other countries that are committed to providing Ukraine with the assistance it needs to defend itself."

"My message to the Ukrainian people on this day is clear: The United States honors your past and stands with you in the present," Biden added. "On this day, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting Ukraine’s ongoing defense of its freedom, its pursuit of justice, and its path to the Euro-Atlantic future it has chosen for itself. The courage and strength of the Ukrainian people will prevail."

Trump signals different path than Biden on Ukraine

NDTV noted that President Biden's statements come as President-elect Trump, who will take office in January, has strongly signaled that his administration will handle the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine differently than the current administration.

One such signal is Trump's nomination of retired U.S. Army General Keith Kellogg as his "special envoy" for Ukraine and Russia. Kellogg has previously suggested that U.S. military aid to Ukraine could be used as leverage to convince Ukraine to accept a deal that involves the ceding of some occupied territories to Russia in exchange for an end to the attacks and withdrawal of Russian forces.