The United States is set to unveil a new security assistance package for Ukraine worth over $2.3 billion, announced Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart at the Pentagon.
Acknowledging Ukraine’s aspirations to join Nato in the upcoming summit in Washington DC, Austin said, “We will take steps to build a bridge to Nato membership for Ukraine,” without providing further details”.
“I am proud that the United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine,” Austin said, speaking just before entering a meeting with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
“This package, under presidential drawdown authority, will provide more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and other critical munitions from the US inventories,” Austin was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Ukrainian officials have been persistently calling for their allies to provide additional air defense systems to counter the frequent missile and drone attacks launched by Russian forces. The latest weapons package for Ukraine is expected to include anti-tank weapons, air defense interceptors, and expedited procurement of NASAMS and Patriot air defense interceptors.
Since 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with military aid valued at more than $50 billion. However, concerns have been raised about the future of US support for Kyiv in the event that Donald Trump wins the presidential election.
Two key advisers to Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine if he is elected, which involves telling Ukraine that it will only receive more US weapons if it enters peace talks with Moscow. This proposal would represent a significant shift in the US position on the war and would likely face opposition from European allies and within Trump’s own Republican Party.
During the meeting with Austin, Umerov expressed Ukraine’s desire to become a member of Nato, stating, “Hopefully soon Ukraine will receive its invitation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who unsuccessfully lobbied for a political invitation to join the alliance at its summit in Vilnius last summer, has said that this year’s summit should resolve the matter of inviting Kyiv to join.
While Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg and Washington have both stated that they do not expect the alliance’s 32 members to invite Ukraine to join while it remains at war with Russia during the July 9-11 summit, Stoltenberg has expressed hope that the summit will demonstrate to Kyiv that it is moving closer to membership.
Acknowledging Ukraine’s aspirations to join Nato in the upcoming summit in Washington DC, Austin said, “We will take steps to build a bridge to Nato membership for Ukraine,” without providing further details”.
“I am proud that the United States will soon announce more than $2.3 billion in new security assistance for Ukraine,” Austin said, speaking just before entering a meeting with Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
“This package, under presidential drawdown authority, will provide more air defense interceptors, anti-tank weapons and other critical munitions from the US inventories,” Austin was quoted as saying by Reuters.
Ukrainian officials have been persistently calling for their allies to provide additional air defense systems to counter the frequent missile and drone attacks launched by Russian forces. The latest weapons package for Ukraine is expected to include anti-tank weapons, air defense interceptors, and expedited procurement of NASAMS and Patriot air defense interceptors.
Since 2022, the United States has provided Ukraine with military aid valued at more than $50 billion. However, concerns have been raised about the future of US support for Kyiv in the event that Donald Trump wins the presidential election.
Two key advisers to Trump have presented him with a plan to end Russia’s war in Ukraine if he is elected, which involves telling Ukraine that it will only receive more US weapons if it enters peace talks with Moscow. This proposal would represent a significant shift in the US position on the war and would likely face opposition from European allies and within Trump’s own Republican Party.
During the meeting with Austin, Umerov expressed Ukraine’s desire to become a member of Nato, stating, “Hopefully soon Ukraine will receive its invitation.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who unsuccessfully lobbied for a political invitation to join the alliance at its summit in Vilnius last summer, has said that this year’s summit should resolve the matter of inviting Kyiv to join.
While Nato chief Jens Stoltenberg and Washington have both stated that they do not expect the alliance’s 32 members to invite Ukraine to join while it remains at war with Russia during the July 9-11 summit, Stoltenberg has expressed hope that the summit will demonstrate to Kyiv that it is moving closer to membership.
