RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday warned that Ukraine's survival was in danger and sought to convince allies that the United States was committed to Kyiv, even as Washington has essentially run out of money to keep arming Ukrainian forces.
Republican House of
Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson is refusing to call
a vote on a bill that would provide $60 billion more for Ukraine and
the White House is scrambling to find ways to send assistance to Kyiv, which
has been battling
Russian forces for more than two years.
Austin is leading the monthly
meeting known as the Ukraine defense contact group (UDCG), held at Ramstein Air
Base in Germany, of about 50 allies that have supported Ukraine.
"Today, Ukraine's
survival is in danger and America's security is at risk," Austin told a
press conference after the meeting.
"I leave here today fully
determined to keep U.S. security assistance and ammunition flowing. And that's
a matter of survival and sovereignty for Ukraine and it's a matter of honor and
security for America," he added.
Austin, who is traveling for
the first time this year since prostate cancer treatment, did not say how
Washington would support Ukraine without additional funding.
Officials say the lack of
funding available is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine, where
Russian troops are advancing and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce
resources.
"I think our allies are
acutely aware of our funding situation and the Ukrainians more so than anyone
because of the shortages that are resulting from us not being able to supply
them," a senior U.S. defense official, speaking on the condition of
anonymity, said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelenskiy appealed to allies on Tuesday to supply more air defences, saying
Russia had launched 130 missiles, more than 320 attack drones and almost 900
guided bombs in attacks
this month alone.
Speaking later in his nightly
video address, Zelenskiy said air defence remained Ukraine's main concern and
thanked participants for their efforts "so that this, our priority, is
fulfilled in an appropriate manner".
Ukrainian Defence Minister
Rustem Umerov, who attended the gathering, said on Telegram that participants
"demonstrated their unity and resolve in helping Ukraine. Our forces are
critically in need of ammunition. The ammo will be delivered!"
Last week, the Biden
administration said it would send $300
million in military assistance to Ukraine, but added that it was an
extraordinary move after unexpected savings from military contracts the
Pentagon had made.
Officials have not ruled out
that they could find additional savings, but they say that amount would not be
enough to make up for the lack of Congressional action.
Experts say that Austin will
face a skeptical audience in Europe.
"It's becoming harder and
harder for U.S. leaders to travel to Europe, with the message that the United
States is committed to Ukraine in the long-term," Rachel Rizzo, a senior
fellow at the Atlantic Council's Europe Center in Washington, said.
"The message of this
long-term financial, military, economic commitment flies in the face of the
reality of what's happening on Capitol Hill."
At a joint press conference in
Berlin on Friday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel
Macron and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk reaffirmed their support for
Ukraine, whose ammunition-starved troops face their toughest battles since the
early days of Russia's invasion two years ago.
German Defence Minister Boris
Pistorius announced on Tuesday a 500 million euro ($543 million) aid package
for Ukraine which includes 10,000 rounds of ammunition and said the United
States was still a reliable partner.
"I have no doubt about
the reliability of the Americans," Pistorius said. "There are
particularities in the political systems, and we have to deal with that."
European support has become
increasingly key with Biden unable to get a big Ukraine aid package through
Congress, and much of his foreign policy energy is focused on the war in Gaza.
But U.S. officials say that
the reality is that without the United States, European support for Ukraine
will not be enough.
"There isn't a way that our allies can really combine forces to make up for the lack of U.S. support," the senior U.S. defense official said.
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