Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a $2.3 billion security assistance package for Ukraine before a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart on Tuesday.
The package will include critical air defense interceptors and other weapons. A Pentagon spokesperson said more details about the package will be made available soon.
Austin met with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Pentagon on Tuesday and underscored the U.S. commitment to defending the country against a Russian invasion.
“Ukraine is in a difficult fight,” Austin said in comments before the meeting, adding “make no mistake, Ukraine is not alone.”
The Pentagon chief also noted that the US signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement with Ukraine, providing Kiev with guarantees of defense cooperation over a decade. He added that he would discuss with Umerov additional ways to strengthen the partnership.
The US has announced billions of dollars of assistance to Ukraine since the last congressional package of around $60 billion was approved in April. This legislation came after months of delays, giving Russia the battlefield advantage before more U.S. aid began arriving on the battlefield.
Ukrainian troops are fighting along a 600-mile front against Russian forces, including in the northeast region of Kharkiv, where Moscow opened a new front in May.
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