Lloyd Austin, US Secretary of Defence, announced a new package of military assistance to Ukraine for US$200 million.

The US official said that he expected that at the meeting, a number of countries will announce new assistance packages for Ukraine. 

"I am proud that the United States will announce its latest security assistance package for Ukraine valued at US$200 million," Austin said at the opening of the 16th meeting of the Contact Group on defence of Ukraine. 

He added that the package includes ammunition for air defence systems, artillery and missile ammunition, high-precision aviation ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and equipment for countering Russian drones. 

"That puts American total commitment at US$43.9 billion since the start of Putin's War," Austin said. 

It has already been reported that this assistance package will be financed from funds the Pentagon saved due to an accounting error. They allow weapons and ammunition to be sent to Kyiv despite the exclusion of new assistance to Ukraine from a temporary spending bill passed by the House of Representatives last weekend to prevent a shutdown.

Previously the Pentagon said that the US Congress must approve additional funding so that the United States can simultaneously provide the necessary military assistance to Israel and Ukraine.

The Western press reported over the weekend that US President Joe Biden wants to approve through Congress up to US$100 billion for Ukraine.  

Read also: How Europe Is Preparing for Possible Cut in US Military Aid