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US Approves $675 Million in Weapons for Ukraine; Defense leaders gather

US President Joe Biden has approved an additional $675 million worth of weapons for Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday, as ministers met to discuss how to continue supporting the country in the long term. in the fight against the Russian invasion.

The six-month conflict, which killed thousands and reduced Ukrainian cities to rubble, turned into a war of attrition fought mainly in eastern and southern Ukraine.

Austin, who was speaking at the start of a meeting of dozens of defense ministers at Germany’s Ramstein air base, said the meeting will discuss how countries can work together to train Ukrainian forces and improve their own industrial defense bases.

“This contact group needs to position itself to sustain Ukraine’s brave defenders for the long term,” Austin said, referring to the meeting. “That means a steady, determined flow of capacity now.”

The latest US package will include more munitions, humvees and anti-tank systems.

Washington has provided more than $10 billion in military assistance to the government of President Volodymyr Zelensky since the invasion of Russian troops on Feb. 24.

Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will announce $2 billion in new US military funding for Ukraine and 18 other countries at risk of future Russian attack, a State Department official said.

Ukraine has been carrying out a counteroffensive in the south, although details on this are scarce. Western military analysts say they believe Russia may have exposed itself in other areas as it rushed to reinforce the South.

US officials say they are aware that Russia expects western unity to be tested in the coming months as European countries pressured by reduced Russian natural gas supplies and the upcoming midterm elections in the United States.

Control of the US Congress is at stake in November’s midterm elections, along with Biden’s remaining political agenda. Those who defend Ukraine are concerned that Washington’s attention may shift to domestic issues as November approaches and voters may be more motivated by issues closer to home, such as the economy.

Earlier this month, the White House said Biden would request $11.7 billion in emergency funding from Congress to provide Ukraine with weapons and budget support.

“Our support for Ukraine’s fundamental right to defend itself does not waver based on any confrontation,” Austin said. “We must evolve as the fight evolves.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin calls the campaign a “special operation” to demilitarize Ukraine, while Kiev accuses Moscow of an imperial-style land grab to retake a pro-Western neighbor that freed itself from Russian rule when the Soviet Union broke up. broke up in 1991.

(With information from Simon Lewis; edited by John Stonestreet and Frances Kerry)

Source: CNN Brasil

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