Egypt Daily News – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, on Monday morning for an unannounced visit to show support for Ukraine ahead of the U.S. presidential elections, according to Reuters.
Austin said on platform X: “I am returning to Ukraine for the fourth time as Secretary of Defense to show that the United States and the international community continue to support Ukraine.”
According to the American network “CNN,” Austin told reporters who traveled with him to Kyiv that he would meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his Defense Minister Rustem Umerov during his visit to Kyiv to discuss Ukraine’s weapon needs.
The network noted that Austin will also discuss how the United States can continue to support the Ukrainian army over the next year.
The White House announced in a statement on Wednesday a new military aid package for Ukraine, worth approximately $425 million.
The statement clarified that U.S. President Joe Biden announced the new package during a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart. It includes enhancing Ukrainian air defense capabilities, in addition to air-to-ground munitions and armored vehicles.
The statement indicated that Zelensky briefed Biden on the “Victory Plan” in the war against Russia, and both sides agreed to hold further consultations on the next steps.
Biden is scheduled to host a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in November 2024, where leaders will coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine.
