US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has vowed to continue sending US weapons to Ukraine as Kiev faces one of its most difficult moments.
It is reported that Austin and about 50 defense leaders from Europe and around the world met recently to coordinate more military aid to Ukraine.
“We are meeting at a moment of challenge,” Austin said, noting that Russia’s new attack in Kharkiv showed why continued engagement from countries was vital to continue.
Although Ukrainian forces continue to complain that the weapons have been stalled due to a congressional deadlock on funding, the Pentagon has announced that the weapons were sent to Ukraine shortly after the funding was approved.
Otherwise, the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, said that the latest offensive in Kharkiv aims to create a sanitary zone, writes yahoonews.
Ukrainian troops have been fighting to halt Russian advances in the Kharkiv region, while also stepping up their offensive in Crimea.
Ukraine has also struggled to get enough troops to the front lines as the war drags into its third year.
In an effort to increase the number of troops, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed two laws, allowing prisoners to join the army and increasing fivefold the fines for those who avoid military service.
In the three weeks since US President Joe Biden signed the $95 billion aid package, the US has shipped $1.4 billion worth of weapons from Pentagon stockpiles.
In recent packages, the US has agreed to send HIMARS artillery missile systems, munitions for advanced Patriot missile systems, anti-aircraft munitions and a range of armored vehicles such as Bradley and Mine Resistant Ambush Protected.
The US has provided about $50.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022.
