US Announces Additional Military Aid Worth 270 Billion Won to Ukraine

by Lee Jieun

Published 11 Oct.2023 20:28(KST)

On the 11th (local time), the United States announced an additional military aid package worth a total of $200 million (approximately 270 billion KRW) to Ukraine, reaffirming its commitment to continue support.

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense [Photo by AFP Yonhap News]

Lloyd Austin, U.S. Secretary of Defense, stated in his opening remarks at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, "I am pleased to announce the latest security assistance package for Ukraine here today."

The United States included in this additional aid package the AIM-9M missile, a new air defense system soon to be delivered to Ukraine, as well as rocket ammunition and anti-tank weapons.

Secretary Austin said, "We must prepare for Russia to launch renewed attacks on Ukraine this winter using cruise missiles and drones," adding, "The Russian military will cruelly and deliberately target Ukrainian cities, civilians, and critical infrastructure."

He continued, "The United States will continue to support Ukraine for as long as it takes," emphasizing, "We are firmly committed to ensuring Ukraine has the support it needs for the upcoming winter war."

The UDCG, convened on the occasion of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting, is a temporary consultative body composed of defense ministers and officials from over 50 countries, established last April to discuss coordinated support measures for Ukraine.

At the 16th meeting held that day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made his first in-person appearance during a surprise visit to Brussels. President Zelenskyy classified both Russia and Hamas, the Palestinian armed group that attacked Israel, as "terrorists," urging continued support by stating, "Please remember that even while attacks on Israel were underway, (Russian) terrorists targeted one of Ukraine's largest power plants."