U.S. approves $675M military assistance package for Ukraine

That’s according to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who spoke Thursday at the start of a meeting with top defense officials from allied countries at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

According to the defense secretary, Biden approved the new package on September 7.

Austin noted other partners’ assistance to Ukraine, thanking Great Britain for its support which has already amounted to GBP2.3 billion, as well as Germany and Denmark, which vowed major additional aid packages. He expressed gratitude to Poland, which has supplied three howitzer battalions, as well as North Macedonia, Slovakia, and other nations.

According to Llyod Austin, the U.S. is set to deliver a wide range of weaponry, including air defense systems, artillery, helicopters, and millions of firearms.

The top defense official said the partners are delivering what Ukraine needs most, while production of such weaponry is now pacing up.

“We will work together to train Ukraine’s forces for the long haul. We will work together to help integrate Ukraine’s capabilities and bolster its joint operations for the long haul,” the defense chief said. “We will work together to upgrade our defense industrial basis to meet Ukraine’s requirements for the long haul, and we will work together for production and innovation to meet Ukraine’s self-defense needs for the long haul.”

 “The face of the war is changing and so is the mission of this contact group,” Austin said. “We must evolve as the fight evolves.”