US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warns of Ukraine's existential threat without increased Western military support. Recently traveling to Germany after recovering from illness, he attended a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base.
After the meeting, Austin said at a news conference that "Today, America's security is at risk and Ukraine's survival is in danger."
According to him, maintaining the supply of arms, gear, and ammunition is "a matter of honor and security for America" as well as "a matter of survival and sovereignty for Ukraine."
He did not clarify how the United States plans to assist Ukraine in the absence of more money. The United States House of Representatives is currently debating the plan that would provide Kiev aid worth over $60 billion.
During the press conference on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Ukraine has already lost territory on the battlefield as a consequence of US "inaction." For months, Democratic President Joe Biden has been attempting, but has not been successful, to persuade Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to authorize the financing for Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a €500 million ($543 million) supply of arms and ammunition for Kiev during the Ramstein summit.
Washington had almost completely depleted the funds for Kiev that Congress had authorized. To restore its own depleting stocks, the Pentagon has requested at least $6.5 billion from Congress. The White House said on Friday that it had assembled a $300 million ammo package from other Pentagon "savings," although it cautioned that this would only help Ukraine for a few weeks. Since the beginning of 2024, this was the first round of US investment.
In the meanwhile, the US has pushed Ukraine to increase the number of younger soldiers it mobilizes in order to replenish the severely depleted ranks of frontline units.
Following their chaotic retreat from the strategic Donbass bastion of Avdeevka last month, Ukrainian soldiers have been suffering high losses in open combat. Based on confidential information released to the publication Marianne earlier this month, French military specialists have concluded that Kiev cannot possible prevail on the battlefield as a result of the war.
After the meeting, Austin said at a news conference that "Today, America's security is at risk and Ukraine's survival is in danger."
According to him, maintaining the supply of arms, gear, and ammunition is "a matter of honor and security for America" as well as "a matter of survival and sovereignty for Ukraine."
He did not clarify how the United States plans to assist Ukraine in the absence of more money. The United States House of Representatives is currently debating the plan that would provide Kiev aid worth over $60 billion.
During the press conference on Tuesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that Ukraine has already lost territory on the battlefield as a consequence of US "inaction." For months, Democratic President Joe Biden has been attempting, but has not been successful, to persuade Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to authorize the financing for Ukraine.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a €500 million ($543 million) supply of arms and ammunition for Kiev during the Ramstein summit.
Washington had almost completely depleted the funds for Kiev that Congress had authorized. To restore its own depleting stocks, the Pentagon has requested at least $6.5 billion from Congress. The White House said on Friday that it had assembled a $300 million ammo package from other Pentagon "savings," although it cautioned that this would only help Ukraine for a few weeks. Since the beginning of 2024, this was the first round of US investment.
In the meanwhile, the US has pushed Ukraine to increase the number of younger soldiers it mobilizes in order to replenish the severely depleted ranks of frontline units.
Following their chaotic retreat from the strategic Donbass bastion of Avdeevka last month, Ukrainian soldiers have been suffering high losses in open combat. Based on confidential information released to the publication Marianne earlier this month, French military specialists have concluded that Kiev cannot possible prevail on the battlefield as a result of the war.
