Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III greets Ukraine President Volodymr Zelenskyy prior to a bilateral exchange hosted at the Pentagon, Washington, D.C., Aug. 31, 2021. (DoD photo by U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders)
By Gary Raynaldo DIPLOMATIC TIMES
PENTAGON – WASHINGTON – The Biden Pentagon on Tuesday announced a $60 million aid package for Ukraine for additional Javelin anti-armor systems and other defensive lethal and non-lethal capabilities. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Tuesday met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Minister of Defence Andrii Taran to reaffirm the strategic defense partnership between the United States and Ukraine. The United States has committed more than $400 million in security assistance to Ukraine this year alone. During the meeting, Defense Secretary Austin condemned Russia’s continued occupation of Crimea and “perpetuation” of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo/ ©Diplomatic Times) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin II ahead of the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin reassured President Zelenskyy the U.S. will continue to urge Russia to end its “illegal occupation” of Ukraine’s Crimea and looks to strengthen bonds between America and Ukraine.
“We again call on Russia to end its occupation of Crimea and to stop perpetuating the conflict in eastern Ukraine, and we will continue to stand with you in the face of this Russian aggression.”
-U.S. Defense Secretary Austin said.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo/ ©Diplomatic Times) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin II ahead of the arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021.
Austin signed a strategic defense framework agreement with Ukraine Defense Minister Taran. The document is meant to enhance cooperation between the two nations and “advances shared priorities by ensuring that our bilateral security cooperation continues to help Ukraine counter Russian aggression,” Austin said.
Ukraine President Zelenskyy expressed his condolences for the 13 American soldiers killed in a suicide bombing in Afghanistan.
“Yesterday — yesterday, immediately on our arrival at the airport at the military base, we lowered both flags, the U.S. and the Ukrainian, in loving memory of these allies which perished in Kabul in the tragic attacks. We can appreciate your loss, especially considering that for the eighth year in a row, we are losing lives of our soldiers in the eastern Ukraine in the war with Russia. We are fighting for our freedom, our independence, our sovereignty. And this is the sacrifice that has to be made in the east of Ukraine with Ukrainian Peninsula, with Crimea. And we are happy to hold conference in support of strategic partners, the U.S.”
-Ukraine President Zelenskyy
DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021.
Photo by Gary Raynaldo/ ©Diplomatic Times) Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin II greets Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before their meeting at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo/ ©Diplomatic Times) Military honor cordon ceremony ahead of arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021. Soldiers with Ukraine’s flag. The combination of blue and yellow as a symbol of Ukrainian lands comes from the flag of the Kingdom of Galicia–Volhynia used in the 12th century.
DIPLOMATIC TIMES VIDEO – Military honor cordon ceremony ahead of arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021.
(Photo by Gary Raynaldo/ ©Diplomatic Times) Military honor cordon ceremony ahead of arrival of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Pentagon in Washington DC Aug. 31, 2021.
Since the “Russia aggression”, the United States has provided Ukraine with more than $2.5 billion in aid, the Pentagon said. This year, that includes Javelin missiles.
