Pentagon Chief Austin Visits Kyiv, Announces $400 Million Aid, Discusses Long-Range Attacks

Oct 21, 2024, 11:19 AM

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made an unannounced visit to Kyiv, Ukraine, to reaffirm the United States' support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's ongoing invasion. Austin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and other government officials to discuss how the U.S. can continue to assist Ukraine in its war effort. During the visit, Austin announced a new $400 million military aid package for Ukraine, which will include ammunition and equipment. Zelensky stated that he and Austin discussed potential long-range attacks on Russian military targets. However, Austin did not authorize any new military aid beyond this or grant permission for Ukraine to use long-range missiles to strike deep into Russia, reportedly declining Ukraine's biggest weapons requests. The visit comes just weeks ahead of the U.S. presidential election, casting uncertainty over future support from Western countries, and as Ukrainian forces face challenges on the battlefield with Russian gains. Austin's trip is seen as a strong signal of the U.S. commitment to Ukraine's war efforts against Russian forces.