Lloyd Austin “traveled to Ukraine today to meet with Ukrainian leaders and reaffirm America’s unwavering support for Ukraine’s struggle for independence,” the Pentagon said. The trip was not announced in advance for security reasons.
“I am now in Kiev to meet the leaders of Ukraine,” the minister wrote in X. He added that it brought an “important message” that “the United States will continue to support Ukraine.” Austin also posted a photo of US Ambassador to Kyiv Bridget Brink welcoming him at a train station in the Ukrainian capital.
During the day, Austin announced a new military aid package worth 100 million dollars (HUF 34 billion), providing long-term support to the leadership in Kyiv.
As he said, in the current shipment, anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons are coming to Ukraine.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the US minister, saying his visit was “a very important signal for Ukraine”. “We hope for their support,” he added.
Pentagon spokesman Pat Ryder announced earlier yesterday that the next meeting of the group established to coordinate Western arms exports to Ukraine will be held this week in the form of a video conference.
Earlier, John Kirby, coordinator for strategic communications at the White House’s National Security Council, said the US government had already spent 96 percent of the funds allocated to help Kiev. He stressed that the absence of further large-scale aid from the United States would have a negative effect on Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Cover image credit: Vin McNamee/Getty Images
