The United States announced a new $100 million military aid for Ukraine as Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin visited the war-torn country on Monday.
It was a surprise trip that was made in an effort to re-emphasize Washington's support for Kyiv amid other pressing international issues. Austin, speaking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, said that the message he was bringing with him was that the U.S. is with him.
Military Aid for Ukraine
United States Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Ukraine and met with President Volodymyr Zelensky to announce a new $100 military aid package for Kyiv.
Austin added that the U.S. would remain in support of Ukraine for the long haul, adding that what happened in the European nation not only matters to itself but also to the rest of the world. In a news release by the Defense Department, the secretary of defense traveled to Kyiv to "reinforce the staunch support of the United States for Ukraine's fight for freedom."
During the visit, the American official unveiled the new military aid package for Ukraine which is considered to be one of the smallest packages yet. This is primarily because available funding for U.S. assistance is starting to run low, as per CNN.
The latest package is the 51st that has been provided to Kyiv from DOD inventories and includes one High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and additional ammunition, 155mm artillery rounds, stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and Tube-launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW) missiles.
Additionally, the package provides Kyiv with cold-weather gear, demolition munitions, and more than three million rounds of small arms ammunition. As Austin announced the new military aid package, he said that he sees "bipartisan support in both chambers of Congress" for assistance to Ukraine.
The official added that there are still things they need to continue to work through to get the supplemental request approved. He noted that they would work with Congress to do just that. In a briefing with traveling press, senior defense officials emphasized the critical nature of Austin's visit and the message that it brings for Ukraine.
Austin said that there was no "silver bullet" in a conflict such as the war between Russia and Ukraine. He noted that it depends on providing the right capabilities while also integrating those capabilities in meaningful ways, according to The Hill.
Supporting Kyiv Against Russia
The situation comes as Ukrainian forces have been in what seems to be a stalemate with Russian forces for the majority of the year. The former is seen to have only made marginal successes since launching a major counteroffensive in June.
Kyiv said that it would most likely need a steady supply of support from Western supporters to stay in the fight against Moscow. The U.S. has pledged to continue supporting the European nation as long as it is needed despite funding running out as winter approaches.
The latest package for Ukraine utilizes assistance that was previously authorized for the nation under the Presidential Drawdown Authority. The Defense Department said that it was left over from prior fiscal years.
Drawdowns typically entail the delivery of military equipment that was previously authorized and requires presidential authorization only and not any specific funding bill from Congress, said Yahoo News.
