In unannounced visit, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin arrives in Ukraine for ‘high-level’ talks

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has traveled to Ukraine for an unannounced visit. He published a photograph of himself in the Kyiv railway station on X, formerly known as Twitter, writing that “the United States will continue to stand with Ukraine in their fight for freedom against Russia’s aggression, both now and into the future.”

According to a U.S. Department of Defense statement, Austin’s visit to Kyiv will include “high-level talks with Ukrainian leadership.”

The U.S. is a key ally of Ukraine, allocating $60 billion in aid to the country since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion. As of early November, the U.S. had spent 96% of this amount. Due to disagreements between Republicans and Democrats, the U.S. Congress has yet to approve a new annual budget; however, both Democrats and Republicans have publicly assured Ukraine that the U.S. will continue to provide support.