The United States announces new $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Photo: president.gov.ua

The United States has allocated a new defense aid package to Ukraine totaling $400 million. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced this during a meeting with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv.

The United States announces new $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine. Photo: president.gov.ua

This package will include ammunition, military equipment, and weaponry. The Secretary assured that support under the security agreement between the United States and Ukraine will continue.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the military assistance package and for all the support the U.S. has provided since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“I thank the American people and President Biden. I am also grateful for the bipartisan support: we greatly appreciate everything that has been done since the start of this war. Thank you for the recent meeting in Brussels within the framework of the Ukraine – NATO Council. It was an opportunity to establish direct dialogue with the defense ministers of allied countries, and after that, there was a strong meeting at the G7 defense ministers’ level,” the President said.

He noted that during a recent phone conversation with President Joe Biden, they discussed the Victory Plan, preparations for the winter period, Ukraine’s air defense capabilities, and options for bolstering them.

The United States announces new $400 million defense aid package for Ukraine. Photo: president.gov.ua

Among the key issues discussed during the meeting were the authorization to use long-range weapons against Russian military targets, increasing the production of strike drones and cruise missiles, as well as artillery shells and air defense systems.

Plans for convening a new “Ramstein” meeting at the heads-of-state level were also discussed.

Special attention was paid to the importance of continuing clear coordination with international partners to provide security assistance to Ukraine.

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