US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin says President Joe Biden has approved additional military aid to Ukraine worth up to $ 675 million (A $ 1 billion).
Austin said at the start of a meeting Thursday with senior officials from allied countries at Ramstein Air Base in Germany that Biden approved the latest tranche of US assistance on Wednesday.
He said the package includes howitzers, artillery ammunition, Humvees, armored ambulances, anti-tank systems, and more.
Austin brought together officials from allied countries to renew their commitment to military support for Ukraine “in the long term”.
Austin said “the war is at another key moment”, with Ukrainian forces starting their counter-offensive in the south of the country.
He said that “we are now seeing the demonstrable success of our joint efforts on the battlefield.”
“The face of war is changing, as is the mission of this contact group,” Austin said at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, which was attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and the Minister of Defense. Ukrainian defense, as well as officials of allied countries.
“We will work together to train long-range Ukrainian forces. We will work together to help integrate Ukraine’s capabilities and strengthen its long-term joint operations, “she said.
“We will work together to improve our defense industrial base to meet Ukraine’s long-range requirements and we will work together for manufacturing and innovation to meet Ukraine’s long-range self-defense needs.”
“We have to evolve as the fight evolves,” Austin said.