Pentagon chief in Kyiv to reassure backing

The United States on Monday announced an additional package of military assistance to Ukraine worth $100 million, with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in Kyiv for a visit to show Western support.

Austin announced the aid package after a day of meetings with Ukrainian officials, with the latest tranche including arms such as antitank weapons, air-defense interceptors and an additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket System.

This is Austin's second trip to Kyiv since Russia launched its special military operation in Ukraine in February 2022 but he is making it under different circumstances, as the world's attention is drawn to the Middle East and signs of fatigue setting in with the almost 21-month Russia-Ukraine conflict, The Associated Press commented.