Unannounced Visit by U.S. Secretary of Defense to Ukraine, Pledges New Military Aid Package
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – During an unannounced trip to Kyiv on Monday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced a new military aid package amounting up to $100 million for Ukraine’s war against Russia.
The assistance package announced by Austin is to be allocated through the Presidential Drawdown Authority and sourced from current U.S. stockpiles. The package includes items such as Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, one high-mobility artillery rocket system, Javelin and AT-4 anti-armor systems, additional ammunition, and various other weapons and equipment.
“The United States remains committed to working with the coalition the United States has built of some 50 Allies and partners who are providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defend itself now and deter Russian aggression well into the future,” according to a Department of Defense statement.
Following his meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Austin affirmed, “I wanted to reassure the leadership that the United States of America will continue to support Ukraine, and we talked about the things that we’re going to continue to do to make sure that they have what they need to be successful on the battlefield.”
As the Department of Defense appeals to Congress for additional funding, the financial support for the war in Ukraine is dwindling. The Biden administration has allocated $43.9 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, according to the Pentagon. However, officials are concerned that approximately only $5 billion remains before the funds are exhausted.