Kyiv, Oct 21 (EFE).- US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, during a visit to Kyiv on Monday, announced a new $400 million military aid package to strengthen Ukraine’s defense against Russian aggression.
The announcement was made during a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.
“I’m pleased to announce today a commitment of a $400 million presidential drawdown package to provide your forces with additional munitions, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons,” Austin said, according to the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.
“We remain committed to supporting Ukraine’s fight for sovereignty at a critical time in the war. The United States stands firmly with Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression,” Austin wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Following the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the US military support, emphasizing the importance of the aid for Ukraine’s defense.
“I thanked him (Austin) for a new defense assistance package for Ukraine (…) that includes ammunition, military equipment, and weaponry,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“We discussed critical defense priorities, including Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, preparations for the winter period, and the expansion of long-range weapon use against Russian military targets,” he added.
Kyiv has long urged its Western allies to permit the use of the donated long-range missiles against targets deep inside Russia.
According to Zelenskyy, they also highlighted the need to increase the production of strike drones, cruise missiles, artillery shells, and air defense systems.
Zelenskyy noted that Austin also outlined plans to hold a new ‘Ramstein format’ meeting to coordinate additional international aid for Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Western allies had originally scheduled a meeting at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany for Oct. 12, but it was postponed after US President Joe Biden canceled his participation due to Hurricane Milton.
The new aid package for Ukraine is the second approved by the White House this month, following a $425 million installment announced by President Biden on Oct. 16. EFE
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