US will pledge $250 million more in military aid, says Austin
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during Friday’s talks in Germany that the US would provide Ukraine with another package of security assistance it values at $250 million (€224 million).
“I’m pleased to say that President [Joe] Biden will announce today an additional $250 million security assistance package for Ukraine. It will surge in more capabilities to meet Ukraine’s evolving requirements,” Austin said.
The talks come as Ukraine is gradually losing ground in the area around Pokrovsk in Donetsk oblast and facing continued aerial attacks on towns and cities, and amid its incursion into Russia’s border region of Kursk.
Zelenskyy arrives at Ramstein, seeking ‘strong’ decisions on long-range strikes on Russia
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said he had arrived at the US’ Ramstein Air Base in western Germany and that he was “working with partners for the strength of Ukraine.”
Writing on Telegram early on Friday, he said he would be calling on allies to do more to help Kyiv attain “the means to stop Russian aerial terror.”
UK to send Ukraine 650 missiles
The UK will provide Ukraine with 650 lightweight multi-role missiles to help Kyiv protect itself against Russian drones and bombing, the British government said on Friday.
The missiles to be sent are worth £162 million (roughly $213.13 million; €192 million) and have a range of 6 kilometers (3.73 miles). They can be fired from a variety of platforms on land, sea and air.
The first batch is due to arrive by the end of the year, the Defense Ministry said.
The missiles package is expected to be formally announced by British Defense Secretary John Healey during a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an ad hoc coalition of some 50 nations, in Germany on Friday.
“This new commitment will give an important boost to Ukraine’s air defenses,” Healey said in a statement.
