U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visited Ukraine, reaffirming U.S. support just ahead of the presidential election. With Russian forces advancing in the east, Austin emphasized ongoing aid, while concerns grow over future support depending on the election outcome.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin made a visit to Ukraine on Monday, signaling Washington's ongoing commitment to Kyiv, just two weeks before a U.S. presidential election that may impact Western support.
This trip will focus on U.S. efforts to bolster Ukraine’s defenses as Russian forces press forward in the eastern region.
Despite this, no new U.S. commitments are expected to address some of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's key requests, such as lifting restrictions on using U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets beyond Ukraine’s borders. As the Biden administration nears its conclusion, Austin underscored the continuity of U.S. assistance, stating, "We are going to continue to support Ukraine in its efforts to defend its sovereign territory."
Austin expressed that the U.S. has adapted its support to Ukraine's evolving needs throughout the conflict, ensuring Ukraine remained effective on the battlefield. His visit comes before the upcoming U.S. presidential election on Nov. 5, where former President Donald Trump, the Republican candidate, is in a tight race against Democratic candidate Vice President Kamala Harris.
Trump hinted at being less willing to continue aid to Ukraine, potentially impacting Kyiv's main military and financial supporter. However, Austin downplayed these concerns, pointing to bipartisan support for Ukraine in Congress, saying, "I have seen bipartisan support for Ukraine over the last 2-1/2 years, and I fully expect that we will continue to see the bipartisan support from Congress."
Russian President Vladimir Putin appears determined to commit more troops to the eastern Donbas region, aiming for full control. In recent weeks, Russian forces have encircled and slowly tightened their grip on towns in Donetsk, forcing Ukrainian troops to retreat. Austin acknowledged the difficulty of the situation, describing it as, "a very tough fight and it's a tough slog."
Freezing temperatures and heavy snowfall have pushed vulnerable Afghan families to breaking point, adding new pressure to a country already battered b...
Iran’s armed forces are prepared to “immediately and powerfully” respond to any U.S. attack, Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said, as Amer...
“The decision is made that the Qamishli air base is not needed anymore,” political analyst Dmitry Bridzhe said, as Russia begins withdrawing force...
The 27 European Union member states have approved €20 million (approximately $23.3 million) in assistance for Armenia from the European Peace Faci...
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said ...
A Pentagon investigation has raised concerns over U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s use of the Signal app on his personal device to transmit sensitive information regarding planned U.S. strikes in Yemen, potentially compromising U.S. military operations.
The Pentagon on Monday threatened to recall U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, a retired Navy captain, to active duty status in order to prosecute him after what it described as seditious behavior by the former astronaut and decorated veteran.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for 1 November, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday ordered the U.S. military to immediately resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in 33 years, minutes before meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea.Trump made the surprise announcement on Truth Social while aboard his Marine One helicopt
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
Residents in Syria’s Kurdish-majority city of Qamishli have stepped up volunteer patrols amid growing pressure from the country’s Islamist-led government, expressing deep mistrust of Damascus despite a fragile U.S.-backed ceasefire.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match. Despite the setback, Qarabağ secured a play-off spot, with results elsewhere going in the Azerbaijani champions’ favour on the final matchday.
Iraq's former Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki said on Wednesday that he rejects U.S. interference in Iraq's internal affairs, after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to cut off support to the country if Maliki was picked as prime minister.
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa stressed to U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Tuesday the importance of unifying international efforts to prevent the return of "terrorist groups", including Islamic State.
“For some weeks now, we have been seeing with increasing clarity the emergence of a world of great powers,” German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Thursday (29 January), declaring that Europe had found “self-respect” in standing up for a rules-based global order.
Colombian authorities on Wednesday (28 January) located a missing plane carrying 15 people in the northeast of the country, with no survivors found, an Air Force source and local media said.
Chinese authorities say they've carried out capital punishment against a group of individuals tied to notorious telecommunications fraud syndicates operating across the southern border, according to state news agency Xinhua.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party is likely to increase its number of parliamentary seats and gain a majority in the lower house, a preliminary survey by the Nikkei newspaper showed on Thursday (29 January).
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 29th of January, covering the latest developments you need to know.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment