WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a surprise trip to Ukraine on Monday, hours before the United States announced an additional $100 million in security assistance for the war-torn nation.
Austin visited kyiv “to meet with Ukrainian leaders and reinforce the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
“I am here today to deliver an important message: the United States will continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russian aggression, both now and in the future.” said the secretary in a post to X early on Monday.
In the afternoon, the Pentagon announced the latest aid package, including anti-aircraft missiles, artillery shells, small arms ammunition, a HIMARS rocket launcher and cold-weather gear as winter approaches in Eastern Europe.
There has been growing pressure among some House Republicans to cut U.S. funding for the defense of Ukraine, especially as calls grow for the U.S. to send additional military aid to Israel as it fights Hamas terrorists in Gaza. .
While Congress averted a partial federal shutdown last week by approving another temporary government funding package that would last through January, it did not include increased funding for Ukraine as the Pentagon seeks a supplemental spending bill to help both Ukraine and Ukraine. like Israel and strengthen the United States. defense production.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin shakes hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a surprise visit to Kiev on Nov. 20, 2023. Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP
Biden asked Congress last month for a supplemental funding request of $106 billion to send aid to Israel and Ukraine, as well as provide humanitarian assistance and border security, but it is not yet clear 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 there are some things we need to continue working on to get the supplemental request approved, and we will continue to work with Congress to get that done,” he said. “Our members of Congress have valid questions that we will answer, but again I would like to point out that Ukraine is important. “What happens here matters not only for Ukraine, but for the whole world.”
Austin greets Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov via Armed Forces of Ukraine via Telegram/Handout via REUTERS
“It’s about not living in a world where a dictator can wake up one day and decide to annex his peaceful neighbor’s property; that’s not the 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 approved by Congress for military assistance to Ukraine, according to the Pentagon. Without a promise of future funding, the department admitted earlier this month that it has begun to slow down the delivery of aid.
“I wanted to assure leaders that the United States of America will continue to support Ukraine,” the defense secretary said. “We talked about the things 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 United States announced another $100 million in military aid for the country. UKRAINIAN PRESIDENTIAL PRESS SER/AFP via Getty Images A Ukrainian soldier stationed on the front line in the Zaporizhzhia region on November 15, 2023.REUTERS
Austin visited kyiv before hosting the next Ukrainian Defense Contact Group meeting virtually later this week from the Pentagon. The group, which he created, meets monthly with senior defense officials from more than 50 countries to coordinate efforts to supply Ukraine with what it needs to push back Russian forces.
Monday marked Austin’s third trip to Ukraine as defense secretary, and the second since Russia invaded the country in February 2022.
Characterizing the conflict as “a grinding struggle,” Austin said the battle will remain “tough” for the foreseeable future.
“There is no miracle solution in a conflict like this,” he said. “It really depends on providing the right capabilities and also integrating them in a meaningful way so that the right effects can be created on the battlefield.”
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Source: vtt.edu.vn