US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrived in Kiev on Monday for a surprise visit to Ukraine to guarantee Washington’s “unwavering” support in the face of the Russian invasion.
Lloyd Austin “traveled to Ukraine today to meet with Ukrainian leaders and reinforce the United States’ unwavering support for Ukraine’s fight for freedom,” the Pentagon said in a statement.
The visit was not announced in advance for security reasons.
I have just arrived in Kiev for a meeting with Ukrainian leaders.
I am here today to deliver an important message: the United States will continue to support Ukraine in its fight for freedom against Russian aggression, both now and in the future. pic.twitter.com/1D96aeeACl
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) November 20, 2023
According to the same source the US official will emphasize “the United States’ continued commitment to providing Ukraine with the security assistance it needs to defend itself against Russian aggression.”
The trip to Kiev, by train from Poland, is the Pentagon chief’s second since Russia launched its invasion of Ukrainian territory.
Washington is Kiev’s largest provider of military aid and a reduction in US aid would deal a major blow to Ukraine and its efforts to liberate the south and east of the country.
The United States has provided tens of billions of dollars in aid since the war began in February 2022 and has repeatedly pledged to support Kiev for as long as necessary, but that pledge has been undermined by growing opposition among some elected officials.
Ukraine and Russia have been at war for more than a year and a half, since Russian troops invaded Ukrainian territory on February 24, 2022.
Source: DN
