Zelensky and Austin agree to continue military aid under Trump

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin took the opportunity of their latest meeting, on Thursday, to pressure the incoming Trump administration not to abandon the battle for Kiev, warning that stopping military support now “will only lead to more aggression, chaos and war.”
“We have come so far that it would be really crazy to give up now and not continue to build the defense alliances that we have created,” Zelensky said.

Additional aid

He added: “No matter what happens in the world, everyone wants to feel confident that their country will not be wiped off the map.”
Austin also announced that the United States would send security assistance to Ukraine worth an additional $500 million, including missiles for fighter jets, maintenance equipment for F-16 aircraft, armored bridge systems, light weapons, and ammunition.
The weapons are funded through presidential withdrawal powers, meaning these weapons can be withdrawn directly from US stockpiles, and the Pentagon is pressing to get them to Ukraine before the end of the month.