WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Monday, arriving hours before the US announced an additional $100 million in security aid for the war-torn country.
Austin visited Kyiv “to meet with Ukrainian leaders and reinforce the strong support of the United States for Ukraine’s struggle for freedom,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
“I am here today to deliver an important message – the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russian aggression, now and in the future,” said the secretary in a post to X early Monday.
In the afternoon, the Pentagon announced the latest aid package, which includes anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, small arms ammunition, HIMARS rocket launchers, and cold weather equipment as winter approaches in eastern Europe.
There is a growing call among some members of the House of Representatives to reduce American funding for Ukraine’s defense, especially as calls grow for the US to send additional military aid to Israel as it battles Hamas terrorists in Gaza.
Although Congress averted a partial federal shutdown last week by approving another temporary government funding package to last through January, it did not include renewed funding for Ukraine as the Pentagon requested additional spending bills to aid both Ukraine and Israel and strengthen US production defense.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Kyiv on November 20, 2023. Press Office of the President of Ukraine via AP
Biden asked Congress last month for an additional $106 billion in funding requests to send aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as provide humanitarian aid and border security, but it remains unclear whether his request will be met.
Still, Austin told reporters in Ukraine on Monday that he continues to “see bipartisan support in both houses of Congress.”
“I know that there are some things that we need to continue to work on to get additional requests approved, and we will continue to work with Congress to do that,” he said. “Our congressmen have legitimate questions that we will answer, but again, I will emphasize that Ukraine is important. What happens here is important not only to Ukraine, but to the whole world.”
Austin greets Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov via X/Handout via REUTERS According to the Pentagon, the Austin visit was made to “reinforce the strong support of the United States for Ukraine’s struggle for freedom.” Armed Forces of Ukraine via Telegram/Circulation via REUTERS
“It’s about you know, not living in a world where a dictator can wake up one day and decide to take his peaceful neighbor’s property – that’s not a world we want to live in,” he added.
As of this month, the Defense Department has spent more than 95% of the $62.3 billion congressionally approved for military aid to Ukraine, according to the Pentagon. With no promise of future funding, the department admitted earlier this month that it had begun to slow the delivery of aid.
“I want to assure the leadership that the United States will continue to support Ukraine,” the defense secretary said. “We talked about what we’re going to continue to do to make sure they have what they need to be successful on the battlefield.”
Austin arrived in Ukraine before the US announced another $100 million in military aid to the country. PRESIDENT OF UKRAINE PRESS SER/AFP via Getty Images A Ukrainian soldier deployed on the front lines in Zaporizhzhia region November 15, 2023.REUTERS
Austin visited Kyiv before hosting the next Ukrainian Defense Liaison Group meeting later this week from the Pentagon. The group, which he created, gathers top defense officials from more than 50 countries every month to coordinate efforts to supply Ukraine with what it needs to defeat Russia’s military.
Monday marked Austin’s third visit to Ukraine as defense secretary — and the second since Russia invaded the country in February 2022.
Describing the conflict as a “great fight,” Austin said the battle will remain “difficult” for the foreseeable future.
“There is no silver bullet in a conflict like this,” he said. “It really comes down to providing the right capabilities and also integrating those capabilities in a meaningful way so that you can create the right impact on the battlefield.”
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
