Fri Sep 06 18:57:00 UTC 2024: – President Zelenskyy of Ukraine is pressing Western allies to loosen weapons use restrictions so Ukraine can target Russian air bases and launch sites far from the border.
– U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin pushed back on the idea of long-range strikes being a game-changer, saying Ukrainians have other means to strike long-range targets.
– Some countries at the meeting seem to be persuaded that Ukraine should get the green light for long-range strikes, which could add pressure on the Biden administration.
– Ukraine is facing significant threats from Russian forces near the Donbas region and is seeking more military support before the U.S. presidential election in November.
– The U.S. will provide an additional $250 million in weapons to Ukraine, including air defense munitions and artillery.
– The meeting also focused on expanding Ukraine’s defense industrial base and sourcing substitute missiles for its air defense systems.
– Western partner nations have provided about $106 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since 2022, with the U.S. providing more than $56 billion of that total.

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