KYIV, Nov 21 — US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin announced US$100 million (RM465 million) in new military aid to Ukraine during an unannounced visit to Kyiv yesterday, pledging long-term American support amid growing concerns about the sustainability of vital US assistance.

Austin announced the aid package after a day of meetings with Ukrainian officials, saying it included arms such as anti-tank weapons and air-defence interceptors.

Austin, accompanied by the top US general in Europe, was photographed smiling and shaking hands with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. It marked Austin’s first visit to Kyiv since April 2022.

"The message that I bring you today, Mr. President, is that the United States of America is with you. We will remain with you for the long haul,” Austin told Zelenskiy after an overnight train ride into Ukraine from Poland.

US ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said the visit showed Washington’s "unwavering support to Ukraine in its fight for freedom”.

Zelenskiy told Austin that his visit was "a very important signal” for Ukraine.

"We count on your support,” Zelenskiy told Austin.

The United States has provided more than US$44 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February 2022.

The trip comes amid increasing division over aid for Ukraine in the US Congress, with a US presidential election coming in November 2024. Some American lawmakers are prioritising aid to Israel even as US defence officials stress that Washington can support both allies simultaneously.

Privately, some top Ukrainian officials have voiced concern that deliveries of military aid may become less frequent, reflecting broader unease over the levels of support needed to sustain the war against Russia. Ukraine’s budget for next year has a deficit of more than US$40 billion which needs to be filled.

Stop-gap spending bill

President Joe Biden had asked Congress to approve more money for Ukraine last month. Its omission from a stop-gap spending bill passed by lawmakers last week raised concerns that funding for Ukraine might never be appropriated, especially after the Republican-led House of Representatives passed a bill including assistance for Israel but not Ukraine.

A vocal bloc of Republicans oppose sending more aid to Ukraine. Opponents of the aid have said US taxpayer money should be spent at home, but a majority of Republicans and Democrats in Congress still support aid to Zelenskiy’s government.

A joint Ukraine-US military industry conference in Washington, due to take place on December 6 and 7, is intended to boost Ukraine’s domestic arms production as the war drags towards the two-year mark.

Earlier in the day, Austin spoke with Defence Department personnel at the US embassy.

"When you think back at the beginning of this, nobody thought that Ukraine could survive for more than a week. So here we are much later,” Austin said.

"Now, everybody’s wondering why Ukraine hadn’t overpowered Russia, which is a much bigger country with a lot more capability. But just think about that shift in mindset,” Austin added.

Russia now controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine. The West sent in military equipment and Ukraine mounted a counteroffensive push this year to retake occupied land, but it has not made a big breakthrough. — Reuters