Sharjah 24 – AFP: Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin promised Tuesday that the United States would not let Ukraine fail in fighting off Russia and expressed hope that Congress would soon approve further aid as Kyiv's forces face munition shortages.
The Republican-led House of Representatives has been blocking $60 billion in assistance for Ukraine and the United States has warned that a recent $300 million package would last only a few weeks.
The "United States will not let Ukraine fail", Austin said at the opening of a meeting in Germany of dozens of Ukraine's international supporters.
"We remain determined to provide Ukraine with the resources that it needs to resist the Kremlin's aggression," he said.
Washington announced the $300 million package for Ukraine last week, but Austin said it was possible only due to savings on recent purchases.
"We were only able to support this much-needed package by identifying some unanticipated contract savings", he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Monday that it was "critically important for us that the Congress soon completes all the necessary procedures and makes a final decision" on aid for Kyiv.
Austin expressed hope Tuesday that the US Congress would approve the additional assistance "soon", and said that aiding Ukraine benefits Washington as well as Kyiv.
The "United States stands by Ukraine because it's the right thing to do and because America cares when freedom is at risk. But we also stand by Ukraine because it's crucial to our own security", he said at a news conference.
Speaking alongside Austin, the top US military officer, General Charles "CQ" Brown, said that aiding Ukraine "strengthens NATO. It helps to bolster the defence industrial base of the United States, Europe and the world."
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