The United States announces new military aid to Ukraine of $100 million
Washington announced new military aid for Ukraine of $100 million on Monday, the day of Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s visit to kyiv.
It includes Himars systems, artillery ammunition and anti-tank weapons, as well as small caliber munitions, according to press releases from the Pentagon and the State Department.
During his visit, Mr. Austin assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of Washington’s continued support in the face of the Russian invasion. The United States is by far the main provider of military aid to Kiev, and a reduction in its support, ardently demanded by some elected Republicans, would deal a severe blow to Ukrainian efforts to liberate the occupied south and east of the country.
This new aid comes from funds already approved by the American Congress but which are dwindling pending the vote of a new budgetary envelope for Ukraine requested by the president, Joe Biden, but which remains on hold due to the opposition from elected Republican officials.
“The message I bring to you today, Mr. President, is that the United States is with you and will be with you for a long time”declared Lloyd Austin during a meeting with the Ukrainian head of state. “Together with our allies and partners, we will continue to support Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and long-term defense requirements”added on X the official, who was also due to meet with his Ukrainian counterpart, Rustem Umerov, and the commander of the armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhny. Mr. Zelensky, for his part, described the Pentagon chief’s visit as “very important signal”. ” We’re counting on your support “he said.
Ukraine is striving to guarantee the continuation of European and American assistance, while voices in the West are being raised to demand a reduction in this support, after almost two years of war. With the international community focusing on the war between Israel and Hamas on October 7, kyiv wants to prevent the support received so far from diminishing.