Washington announces 500 million dollars in military aid ahead of Trump's arrival
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday called for a continuation of the Ramstein format, under which a coalition of more than 50 countries is providing military support to Ukraine in the face of the Russian invasion.
He said that any alternative to helping Kiev “would be far worse, and that this coalition must continue to support Ukraine unconditionally and strengthen its position in the negotiations that will one day bring Putin's monstrous war to an end. This path is difficult, but all the alternatives are much worse”, he declared at the end of the meeting, held at Ramstein air base in Germany.
He was joined by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenski at the forum's last meeting before Donald Trump returned to the White House, casting doubt on its continuity in particular, as well as the level of support for Ukraine in general.
In the face of doubts about the forum's continuity, Austin defended the fact that the coalition set up by the US to coordinate support for Ukraine has a structure “built to succeed, adapt and endure”, although he left the decision to continue bringing this group of countries together in the hands of the next administration. At the meeting, Lloyd Austin announced a further $500 million in military aid for Ukraine.
(MH with FM/Source: Agence/Photo: Pixabay)