US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon on Tuesday to discuss ongoing military support for Ukraine amid its conflict with Russia. During the meeting, Austin announced that Washington would soon announce a further $2.3 billion in security assistance for Kiev, emphasizing the United States’ “unwavering support” for Ukraine.
This announcement follows previous commitments from the United States to provide military aid and support for Ukraine as it faces ongoing aggression from Russia. The new package of assistance is expected to include a significant number of air defense interceptor missiles, according to press secretary Pat Ryder.
In his statement, Austin expressed pride in the United States’ commitment to supporting Ukraine, stating that “I am proud that the US will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine.” He went on to say that this package would include additional air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons, and other critical munitions from American inventories.
The ongoing conflict has seen increased demands from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for further air defense systems, including at least 25 Patriot systems provided by the United States and Germany. However, the US has been hesitant to send more launchers and instead encourages European allies to share their anti-air capabilities with Kiev.
This latest announcement of increased military aid from Washington reaffirms its commitment to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. Despite Moscow’s repeated warnings that foreign military supplies will not deter Russia from achieving its goals, the United States and its allies continue to stand by Ukraine and provide necessary assistance as it navigates this tumultuous conflict.