Pentagon chief vows to support Ukraine even as future funding remains in doubt
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Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin says the US will continue to provide Ukraine with "both short-term and long-term support".
PHOTO: REUTERS
WASHINGTON – Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin on Feb 14 said the United States would not back down from supporting Ukraine in the short and long term, even as President Joe Biden’s administration has run out of money for Kyiv and a request for additional funds is languishing in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.
“We will continue to dig deep to provide Ukraine with both short-term and long-term support,” Mr Austin said virtually, without mentioning the US$95.34 billion (S$129 billion) military aid package for Ukraine and other allies that has not been taken up yet by House Speaker Mike Johnson.
Mr Austin was speaking virtually from his house after he was forced to cancel a planned trip to Brussels for the Nato meeting because he was hospitalised
Mr Austin’s comments come at a critical moment for Ukraine and questions about US commitment to Europe.
Ukraine’s leadership sees the funding as crucial as it continues to fight an invasion launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin nearly two years ago.
While Mr Austin did not address the lack of funding and the House of Representatives, others have.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron on Feb 14 urged US lawmakers to vote for the security aid package.
“I urge members of Congress in the United States who will be looking at this today to vote for the package,” Mr Cameron told reporters during a visit to Bulgaria.
Mr Biden has been pushing for the package, which also includes security funding for Israel and Taiwan and humanitarian aid for Palestinians, for months. He has faced opposition from Republican hardliners, particularly those most closely aligned with former president Donald Trump.
Backers of the aid have been warily watching Trump’s reaction. He has criticised the aid on social media
Trump, in recent days, has drawn scorn from Mr Biden and top western officials after he suggested the US might not protect Nato allies who are not spending enough on defence from a potential Russian invasion. REUTERS
