US announces new $325 million military aid package for Ukraine

According to NBC News, during a meeting on September 21 with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, US President Joe Biden announced a new military aid package worth $325 million for Ukraine, including upgrading air defense capabilities, cluster munitions, artillery, anti-tank weapons and other equipment.

Starting next week, the US will deliver the first Abrams main battle tanks to Ukraine.

Amanda Sloat, senior director for European affairs at the National Security Council, said this is the fourth US military aid package for Ukraine in six weeks and is not related to the $24 billion military aid package that the Biden administration is trying to convince the US Congress to approve.

The new aid package will not include long-range ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions, but Mr. Biden did not rule out providing such weapons to Ukraine in the future.

On the same day, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the Pentagon to reaffirm the US's steadfast support for Ukraine.

Pentagon press secretary Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement that Secretary Austin provided an update on how U.S. security assistance is meeting Ukraine's most pressing needs and the results of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group held in Ramstein, Germany earlier this week.

The leaders also discussed Ukraine’s long-term capability requirements and support from the United States and other partners to help build a stronger Ukrainian force capable of defending Ukraine for years to come.

After working with US military leaders, Mr. Zelensky visited the Capitol to meet with bipartisan lawmakers, held talks with President Joe Biden at the White House before giving a speech that evening at the National Archives Museum.