US Defense Secretary Austin visits Ukraine to reassure Kyiv about continuing support against Russia

By TARA COPP and FELIPE DANA
Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has made an unannounced visit to Kyiv. He arrived Monday in what is expected to be a high-profile push to keep money and weapons flowing to Ukraine even as U.S. and international resources are stretched by the new global risks raised by the Israel-Hamas conflict. Austin traveled to Kyiv by train from Poland. He is scheduled to meet with senior Ukrainian officials and publicly press Ukraine’s urgent military needs as it enters another tough winter of fighting. U.S. officials said Austin intended to tell Ukrainian officials that American support for Kyiv’s effort to defeat Russia’s invasion forces is steadfast and will continue.