US, new military aid of 400 million dollars to Ukraine

2024-10-21 19:52:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a new $400 million in arms aid to Ukraine on Monday in Kiev, during a solidarity visit just two weeks ahead of the uncertain US presidential election. the future of Western support.

Secretary Austin's trip, his fourth and possibly his last as Pentagon chief during President Joe Biden's administration, focused on U.S. efforts to help Kiev bolster its defenses as Russian forces slowly gain ground , but steadily in eastern Ukraine.

Mr Austin described Ukraine's fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's aggression as critical to the West's own security, saying that if support for Kiev was cut, "Putin's shadow" would fall over all of Europe.

"We must all understand that Putin's attack is a warning. It is a first glimpse of what a world built by tyrants and thugs would be like - a chaotic, violent world divided into spheres of influence," he said in a speech during the visit.

As Mr Austin arrived by train in Kiev after an overnight journey from Poland, Ukrainian officials announced new overnight Russian attacks in the capital that damaged residential buildings and wounded at least one civilian.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a statement at Platform X that he had spoken with Secretary Austin about easing restrictions on the use of US-sent weapons to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.

But while the administration of President Biden is at the end of the mandate, Mr. Austin did not announce any change in the policy of the United States in this direction. However, he announced additional ammunition, armored vehicles and anti-tank weapons for Ukraine.

Secretary Austin's visit comes ahead of the November 5 US presidential election, where former President Donald Trump, the Republican nominee, is seeking a return to the White House in a close race against Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee.

Mr Trump has signaled that, unlike Mr Biden, he would be reluctant to continue support for Ukraine, which could deprive Kiev of the backing of Washington, its biggest military and financial backer. Mr. Austin dismissed this concern.

"I have seen bipartisan support for Ukraine over the past 2-1/2 years, and I fully expect that we will continue to have bipartisan support from Congress," he said.

A US defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that 600,000 Russian soldiers have been killed or wounded so far in the war with Ukraine.

But President Putin continues to send more and more forces to the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, which Moscow claims as its territory.

"It's a very tough fight and a tough test," Mr. Austin said of the challenges facing Ukrainian forces.

Meanwhile, Kiev has tried to keep the West's attention on its war against Russia, despite international concerns about the conflict in the Middle East./VOA