Washington introduced a package deal of weapons and tools to help Ukraine as Protection Secretary Lloyd Austin informed President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that america was in ”for the lengthy haul” in its help for Ukraine because it continues to battle Russian troops.
The package deal supplies as much as $100 million of arms and tools approved underneath beforehand directed drawdowns, Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned in a assertion. The package deal contains Excessive-Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs (HIMARS) and extra ammunition.
The help ”will assist meet Ukraine’s fast battlefield wants because it fights to retake its sovereign territory,” Blinken mentioned, including that it was essential for Congress to take motion by passing President Joe Biden’s request for added funding for Ukraine.
Austin arrived earlier within the day in Kyiv on an unannounced go to in a present of help for Ukraine amid issues of a ”conflict fatigue” amongst Ukraine’s Western allies, particularly in america — Ukraine’s fundamental supplier of navy and monetary assist.
”The message that I carry you at this time, Mr. President, is that america of America is with you, we are going to stay with you for the lengthy haul,” Austin informed Zelenskiy after the assembly.
Dwell Briefing: Russia’s Invasion Of Ukraine
RFE/RL’s Dwell Briefing provides you the entire newest developments on Russia’s full-scale invasion, Kyiv’s counteroffensive, Western navy assist, world response, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL’s protection of the conflict in Ukraine, click on right here.
”I used to be honored to fulfill with President Zelenskiy in Kyiv at this time to reaffirm america’ steadfast help for Ukraine. We, together with our allies and companions, will proceed to help Ukraine’s pressing battlefield wants and long-term protection necessities, Austin mentioned in a separate message on X, previously generally known as Twitter.
Zelenskiy highlighted the go to as ”an important sign for Ukraine” and mentioned, ”we rely in your help.”
Zelenskiy’s workplace mentioned he thanked the U.S. authorities and identified the significance of the go to of the delegation forward of the November 22 assembly of the Ramstein group, formally generally known as the Contact Group on Protection of Ukraine.
The assembly emphasised the urgency of continuous the uninterrupted provide of all the mandatory weapons and ammunition by the allies, Zelenskiy’s workplace mentioned. The president additionally emphasised the necessity to strengthen Ukraine’s capabilities forward of winter.
The go to was Austin’s second to Ukraine. He arrived in Kyiv by practice from Poland with a delegation that included U.S. Military Common Christopher Cavoli, supreme commander of allied forces in Europe. The U.S. officers additionally met with Protection Minister Rustem Umerov and Chief of Employees Common Valeriy Zaluzhniy.
Washington has given tens of billions of {dollars} in navy and different assist to Ukraine for the reason that begin of Russia’s unprovoked invasion in February final yr.
The U.S. authorities has reiterated many occasions that it’s going to stand with Kyiv for so long as it takes. Nonetheless, there was rising concern about Washington’s continued help amid opposition from some hard-line Republicans in Congress.
Additional monetary help for Ukraine was ignored of a brief invoice permitted by Congress final week to avert a U.S. authorities shutdown.
The Pentagon mentioned in a assertion that Austin’s go to was meant to ”reinforce the staunch help of america for Ukraine’s struggle for freedom.”
”The discussions will give attention to additional bolstering the strategic partnership between america and Ukraine, to incorporate guaranteeing Ukraine’s armed forces have the battlefield capabilities they want for each the winter and to defend their nation in opposition to future Russian threats, the Pentagon assertion mentioned.
”He can even underscore the continued U.S. dedication to offering Ukraine with the safety help it must defend itself from Russian aggression, whereas additionally discussing a long-term imaginative and prescient for Ukraine’s future drive,” it mentioned.
Austin’s go to to Kyiv comes forward of a gathering later this week of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group, also referred to as the Ramstein format, which consists of some 50 international locations that again Kyiv in its conflict in opposition to Russia.
In Ukraine, Russian shelling of civilian-populated areas killed no less than three individuals on November 20, regional officers mentioned.
Serhiy Lysak, the governor of the Dnipropetrovsk area, mentioned on Telegram that an 83-year-old lady was killed by Russian artillery strikes in Nikopol and a 53-year-old man was wounded.
Two civilians have been killed when Russian troops shelled Kherson early on November 20, the pinnacle of the southern Ukrainian metropolis’s navy administration, Roman Mrochko, reported.
Regional Governor Oleksandr Prokudin mentioned on Telegram that two drivers have been killed when Russian troops fired on the car parking zone of a non-public transport firm in Kherson.
Prokudin earlier on November 20 mentioned that in a single day shelling of residential areas of the area wounded six individuals, together with one little one.
With reporting by AFP