US assures allies it 'will not let Ukraine fail'

STORY: "...we will not walk away."

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was in Germany on Tuesday to convince European allies that the United States was committed to continued support for Ukraine.

"Ukraine won’t back down and neither will the United States."

But experts say Austin faced a skeptical audience at a meeting known as the Ukraine defense contact group, as the U.S. Congress continues to delay critical aid for Ukraine.

"The United States will not let Ukraine fail."

Austin did not say how the U.S. would support Ukraine without additional funding and did not specifically mention Congress.

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has so far refused to call a vote on a bill that would provide $60 billion more for Ukraine.

"Ukraine’s survival is on the line."

In the meantime, the White House has been scrambling to find ways to send assistance to Ukraine, as officials say the lack of funding available is already having an impact on the battlefield and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce resources.

"Let’s not kid ourselves: Putin will not stop at Ukraine. But as President Biden has said, Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons that it needs to defend itself."

Last week the Biden administration said it would send $300 million in military assistance to Ukraine, but said it was an extraordinary move after unexpected savings from military contracts the Pentagon had made.

Officials have not ruled out that they could find additional savings, but they say that amount would not be enough to make up for the lack of Congressional action.

U.S. officials say the reality is that without the United States, European support for Ukraine will not be enough to fend off Russian forces.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Russia is preparing a new offensive against Ukraine starting in late May or summer.