US, Ukraine defense heads discuss Russia’s use of new missiles, 2025 aid to Kyiv

3/12/2024 12:21

        The U.S. and Ukrainian defense chiefs on Monday discussed Russia's use of new ballistic missiles, preparations for the next meeting of arms donors and plans for Washington's military aid next year, both sides said.
        
        The meeting came as the U.S. said it will send Kyiv $725 million of missiles, ammunition, anti-personnel mines and other weapons, as President Joe Biden's outgoing administration seeks to bolster Kyiv before leaving office.
        
        The Pentagon's press secretary, Major General Pat Ryder, said in a statement, "Secretary (of Defense Lloyd) Austin condemned Russia's recent barrage of missiles and Unmanned Aerial Systems targeting Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and its use of an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile in Ukraine, which marks another escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine."
        
        In late November, Russia fired a hypersonic Intermediate-Range Ballistic Missile (IRBM) at the Ukrainian city of Dnipro in response to the U.S. and UK's allowing Kyiv to strike Russian territory with advanced Western weapons, in a further escalation of the 33-month-old war.
        
        Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the call also focused on "strategic planning for 2025, particularly regarding the supply of weapons, equipment, and equipping of our units."