On Monday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to Kyiv, where they discussed key issues related to Ukraine’s ongoing defense against Russian aggression.
In a post on X, Zelenskyy highlighted their talks on defense priorities, arms production and deliveries, winter preparations, and expanding the use of long-range weapons against Russia. He also expressed gratitude to US President Joe Biden, both parties in Congress, and the American people for their continued support since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
Zelenskyy thanked Austin specifically for the recent $400 million (€370 million) US defense aid package, which includes weapons and military equipment. The US remains Ukraine’s largest donor, followed by Germany and the UK.
Austin’s visit comes ahead of the US presidential election on November 5. Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to maintain strong support for Ukraine if reelected, while Republican candidate Donald Trump has threatened to halt US assistance to the country.
Source: DW
