Egypt Daily News – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Friday new military aid for Ukraine worth $250 million, as Kyiv seeks to confront the advance of Russian forces in the east of the country and to repel the devastating bombardments carried out by Moscow.
Austin said during a meeting in Germany for international supporters of Ukraine that “President (Joe) Biden will sign a new security assistance package worth $250 million for Ukraine.” “This will enhance the capabilities to meet Ukraine’s evolving needs.”
He hopes that the aid will meet “Kyiv’s changing needs (according to the circumstances), and that the delivery process will occur with ‘military speed’.” According to the minister, the package includes air defense equipment, weapons, and armored vehicles.
The Pentagon announced on August 23rd that it would provide another aid package worth $125 million to Kyiv, which includes munitions for “HIMARS” rocket systems and artillery shells.
It is worth noting that since the beginning of the special military operation, the United States has allocated military aid to Ukraine amounting to more than $55.7 billion.
For its part, Russian authorities have repeatedly confirmed that supplying Kyiv with Western weapons will not diminish Moscow’s resolve nor change the course of the special military operation.
This comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on Friday for “more weapons” from allied countries gathered in Germany “to repel Russian forces” in Ukrainian territory, “especially in the Donetsk region” in the east.
During a meeting with Kyiv’s allies at the U.S. airbase in Ramstein, western Germany, Zelensky stated that “the world has enough air defense systems to ensure that Russian terrorism achieves no results, and I urge you to be more active in working with us in the field of air defense,” while also calling for permission to use long-range missiles “not only on the occupied territories in Ukraine but also on Russian territory.”
The Ukrainian army announced the success of its counteroffensive in the eastern part of the country, coinciding with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s scheduled arrival in Germany on Friday, where Ukraine’s allies are gathering to discuss military aid.
Zelensky is holding a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday in Frankfurt (West), according to the spokesperson for the German government, as reported by AFP, without providing further details.
According to unconfirmed information published by Der Spiegel, the Ukrainian president will demand additional weapons during his participation in a “contact group” of Ukraine’s allies in Ramstein, where the American base is not far from Frankfurt.
Volodymyr Zelensky has long been demanding more air defenses and long-range missiles, which the United States and Germany, his main arms suppliers, are hesitant to provide out of fear of escalating tensions with Moscow. Additionally, his supporters are demanding the lifting of restrictions on the use of weapons targeted at objectives deep within Russian territory.
Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov recently held talks in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, and Germany.
Berlin confirmed on Wednesday the delivery of eight Iris-T SLM air defense systems and nine Iris-T SLS systems by 2025.
For its part, London announced on Friday a contract worth £162 million (€192 million) to send 650 lightweight, multi-role, short-range missiles that can be launched from various land, sea, and air platforms.
During the NATO summit in July, Ukraine’s allies decided to deliver American-made F-16 fighter jets and new air defense systems to Kyiv.
But while Ukraine’s allies affirm their steadfast support, many governments face a divided public opinion as the war continues.
