Pentagon Chief Commits to Supporting Ukraine Amid Uncertainty Over Future Funding, Reports Reuters

By Idrees Ali and Phil Stewart

WASHINGTON – U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed on Wednesday that the United States will continue to support Ukraine both in the immediate and long term, despite the Biden administration facing challenges in securing additional funding for Kyiv due to political delays in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

"We will continue to dig deep to provide Ukraine with both short-term and long-term support," Austin stated during a virtual appearance, though he did not directly reference the pending military aid package valued at approximately $95 billion that has yet to be addressed by House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Austin delivered his remarks from home after being hospitalized for a bladder issue, which caused him to cancel a scheduled trip to Brussels for a NATO meeting.

His statements come at a pivotal time for Ukraine, amid ongoing concerns about U.S. commitment to European stability. Ukrainian officials view continued funding as essential as they combat an invasion initiated by Russian President Vladimir Putin nearly two years ago.

While Austin did not specifically mention the funding stalemate, other officials have. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron urged U.S. lawmakers to support the proposed aid package. "I urge members of Congress in the United States who will be looking at this today to vote for the package," he stated to reporters during a visit to Bulgaria.

President Biden has been advocating for this comprehensive package, which also encompasses security funding for Israel and Taiwan, as well as humanitarian assistance for Palestinians, for several months. He has encountered resistance from Republican hardliners aligned with former President Donald Trump.

Supporters of the aid package are closely monitoring Trump’s stance, as he has criticized the assistance on social media, suggesting it should be structured as a loan, and has expressed concerns about U.S. allies, hinting at possible aggression against certain NATO members.

Recently, Trump has faced backlash from Biden and top Western officials for implying that the United States may not defend NATO allies who do not meet their defense spending obligations from potential Russian threats.