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.
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. 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.
But he noted that “even as the Russians have gained territory, they do it at a pretty big cost in number of casualties, like in personnel, but also in number of pieces of equipment that are being taken out”. The sinkings have been an embarrassment for Moscow and Russian state media confirmed Tuesday that the head of its navy had been replaced.