The U.S. on Monday launched a brand new $100 million support bundle for Ukraine, asserting extra artillery rounds and anti-aircraft munitions as Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin made a shock go to to Kyiv.
The bundle consists of 155 millimeter artillery shells, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, small arms ammunition and Javelin and AT-4 launchers.
Austin mentioned at a Monday press convention in Kyiv that the bundle will assist Ukrainian troops within the coming months “have the implies that they’ll should be profitable combating within the wintertime.”
“There isn’t a silver bullet in a battle like this. It actually depends upon offering the correct capabilities and in addition integrating these capabilities in significant methods,” he mentioned. “The Ukraine army is a studying group, and it’ll proceed to study from from all of its operations.
“I feel what’s essential is that the army constructs its operations to deal with the aims and the objectives that the president needs to attain,” he added, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Ukrainian forces have been slowed down in a stalemate with dug-in Russian forces for many of the yr, with solely marginal successes since launching a significant counteroffensive in June.
Ukraine says it is going to want a gradual provide of assist from Western backers to remain within the battle, and the U.S. has vowed to proceed supporting Kyiv so long as wanted, although authorised cash is operating out as winter closes in.
The Pentagon has mentioned it’s pacing out the variety of packages to Ukraine because it waits for Congress to move one other spherical of laws that would embrace doubtlessly billions extra.
The Republican-controlled Home, nevertheless, has struggled to move any Ukraine bundle as extra conservative members have expressed skepticism on future assist.
Austin, who has met with new Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), mentioned he “continues to see bipartisan assist” in Congress.
“Our congressional members have legitimate questions that we’ll reply, however once more, I might level out that Ukraine issues,” he mentioned. “What occurs right here issues not simply to Ukraine, however to your entire world.”
Austin traveled to Ukraine to have interaction in high-level talks with Ukrainian management on bolstering assist for the embattled nation in its battle towards Russia.
The Pentagon chief may also host a Ukraine Protection Contact Group assembly later this week, the place greater than 50 nations focus on and take motion on supporting Ukraine.
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