Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin mentioned Tuesday that the USA will quickly announce a further $2.3 billion in safety help for Ukraine, together with anti-tank weapons, interceptors and ammunition for Patriot and different air protection methods.
Austin’s remarks got here as Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov met with him on the Pentagon, and have been a robust response to kyiv’s requests for assist in combating Russian forces within the Donetsk area.
Austin mentioned the assistance will come by means of the presidential drawdown authority, which permits the Pentagon to take weapons from its stockpile and ship them extra shortly to Ukraine.
“Make no mistake, Ukraine just isn’t alone, and the USA won’t ever waver in its help,” Austin mentioned as he opened the assembly with Umerov. “Along with some 50 allies and companions, we’ll proceed to supply the important capabilities Ukraine must push again in opposition to Russian aggression in the present day and deter Russian aggression tomorrow.”
The announcement comes simply days earlier than the USA holds a NATO summit in Washington and as Ukraine has continued to push for army help and acceptance into the alliance.
“We are going to take steps to construct a bridge to Ukraine’s NATO membership,” Austin advised Umerov.
“We hope that Ukraine will quickly obtain its invitation,” the Ukrainian minister replied.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned Sunday that Russia had dropped greater than 800 highly effective gliding bombs on Ukraine previously week alone. He urged nationwide leaders to loosen up restrictions on the usage of Western weapons to assault army targets inside Russia. Specifically, he mentioned, Ukraine wants the “mandatory means to destroy the carriers of those bombs, together with Russian fighter jets, wherever they’re.”
Austin didn’t tackle the restrictions in his opening remarks, however advised Umerov they’d focus on “additional methods to fulfill Ukraine’s fast safety wants and construct a future pressure to repel additional Russian aggression.”
Together with the newest $2.3 billion, the USA has dedicated greater than $53.5 billion in safety help to Ukraine for the reason that Russian invasion in February 2022.
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