Washington Will Not Let Ukraine Fail, US Defence Chief Vows
Umer Jamshaid Published March 19, 2024 | 05:50 PM
Ramstein Air Base, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Mar, 2024) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin promised Tuesday that the United States will not let Ukraine fail in fighting off Russia, even as further aid remains stalled in Congress and Kyiv's forces face shortages of munitions.
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 only last a few weeks.
The "United States will not let Ukraine fail", Austin said at the opening of a meeting in Germany of Ukraine's international supporters, at which he is seeking to secure further assistance for Kyiv.
"We remain determined to provide Ukraine with the resources that it needs to resist the Kremlin's aggression," he said.
Washington announced $300 million in assistance for Ukraine last week, but Austin said it was only possible due to savings on recent purchases.
"We were only able to support this much-needed package by identifying some unanticipated contract savings", Austin said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement the day before that it is "critically important for us that the Congress soon completes all the necessary procedures and makes a final decision" on aid for Kyiv.
Top US military officer General Charles "CQ" Brown told journalists en route to the Ukraine meeting that Kyiv's troops are "having to pay attention to their supply rates and how they execute."
- 'Incremental gains' -
There is an "incremental kind of back and forth between Ukraine and Russia", with "incremental gains on both sides", Brown said.
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."
Austin said in his remarks Tuesday that "Russia has paid a staggering cost for (President Vladimir) Putin's imperial dreams", using "up to $211 billion to equip, deploy, maintain, and sustain its imperial aggression against Ukraine."
"At least 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded" since Russia launched its all-out invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Austin said, adding that Ukraine has also "sunk, destroyed, or damaged some 20 medium-to-large Russian navy vessels."
The sinkings have been an embarrassment for Moscow and Russian state media confirmed Tuesday that the country had replaced the head of its navy.
Austin and other US officials have spearheaded the push for international support for Ukraine, quickly forging a coalition to back Kyiv after Russia invaded and coordinating aid from dozens of countries.
Speaking at the Ramstein US base, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Berlin has offered another half a million Euros worth of military aid to Ukraine.
"That includes 10,000 rounds of ammunition from the stock of our armed forces," he told journalists.
Germany is Ukraine's second biggest donor of military support, after Washington, which has committed tens of billions of Dollars to aid Kyiv since February 2022.
Related Topics
Recent Stories
Govt's wheat procurement target increased upto 1.8 metric tons
SC forms six-member bench to IHC judges'letters
PM to take part in World Economic Forum meeting in Riyadh today
Punjab Police officer Riffat Bukhari wins global award
Punjab Police Hero ASP Shehbano Naqvi’s wedding festivities spark joy
TECNO CAMON 30 Series set to launch at a grand fashion show in Karachi
Record growth being witnessed in IT exports due to SIFC’s efforts
Pakistan, Canada agree to enhance cooperation in all fields
Currency Rate In Pakistan - Dollar, Euro, Pound, Riyal Rates On 27 April 2024
Today Gold Rate in Pakistan 27 April 2024
HEC reviews curricula for environmental sciences degree programme
ICC Asia looking forward to an action-packed Asia Cricket Week
More Stories From World
-
Pakistan Embassy in Beijing hosts Pakistan Professional and Student Forum
8 minutes ago -
Tennis: ATP/WTA Madrid Open results
58 minutes ago -
Russia hits Ukrainian energy sites in 'massive' overnight attack
58 minutes ago -
Estanguet emotional as Olympic torch sets sail for France
1 hour ago -
Italy summons Russian envoy over Ariston subsidiary takeover
1 hour ago -
Benin police fire tear gas to break up union protest
2 hours ago
-
Estanguet emotional as Olympic torch sets sail for France
2 hours ago -
Olympic torch begins its voyage to France
3 hours ago -
Haliburton hits winner as Pacers hold off Bucks, T'Wolves push Suns to brink
3 hours ago -
Star K-pop producer causes online stir after lashing out at industry bosses
3 hours ago -
Kenyan patients suffer as doctors' strike grinds on
3 hours ago -
China to send 2 giant pandas to U.S.
4 hours ago