Apr 27, 2024
Ukraine Gets Australian Funding Pledge for Air Defense, Drones
Bloomberg News
,(Bloomberg) -- Australia has ramped up military aid for Ukraine, with A$100 million ($65 million) in new funding to go toward short-range air defense systems, drone development and other equipment needed in the nation’s war against Russia.
“While Ukraine is here fighting for its sovereignty and for its nation, it is also fighting for the maintenance of the global rules-based order and in that sense, it’s fighting for us,” Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles said Saturday in Lviv, Ukraine. “Ukraine need to be empowered to resolve this on their terms.”
Read More: Ukraine Endures Missile Barrage, Strikes Russian Refinery
The latest funding brings the total amount Australia has contributed to Ukraine’s war efforts since the conflict began in February 2022 to A$1 billion. On Friday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed a $6 billion commitment for long-term contracts to provide Kyiv with weapons such as Patriot missiles, artillery ammunition and drones.
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