Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary: Austin Has Discussed Ukraine's Actions in Russia With Ukrainian Counterpart

U.S. support to Ukraine will continue as Ukrainian service members drive into Russia, said Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh today.

Singh told the news media at the Pentagon that Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III has spoken with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The two men "discussed ongoing support from allies and partners in helping meet Ukraine's urgent military requirements," she said. "The secretary reiterated U.S. support for Ukraine and that the two will continue to remain in close contact."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy gave a description of the objectives of the Ukrainian counteroffensive into Kursk on Saturday. "There have already been several reports by Commander-in-Chief [Ukrainian Col. Gen. Oleksandr] Syrskyi about the frontline situation and our operation in the Kursk region" of Russia, Zelenskyy said in his daily report to the Ukrainian people. "We see that the occupier is suffering losses, and this is helpful - very helpful - for our defense. It is about destroying the logistics of the Russian army and draining their reserves."

Ukrainian forces must inflict maximum damage on all Russian positions, he said. The Ukrainian forces are tenaciously defending the Donbas region even as they advance in Kursk. "We are eliminating the Russian military presence in the area of our operations there and replenishing 'the exchange fund' for our state," he said.

The "exchange fund' is replenishing units with personnel, ammunition and supplies.

The United States will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against the Russians, Singh said. "Our main avenue of supporting Ukraine is through security assistance," she said. "Presidential drawdown packages are going to continue."

Singh said there has been movement of Russian forces in Ukraine, "but I couldn't tell you exactly where they're pulling their forces from."

Zelenskyy said Ukraine will fortify the area in Kursk and use it as a buffer zone to prevent Russian forces from firing into Ukraine. In his Aug. 18 report, he said Ukrainian forces have achieved "good and much-needed results" in destroying Russian equipment.

"All this is more than just defense for Ukraine. It is now our primary task in defensive operations overall to destroy as much Russian war potential as possible and conduct maximum counteroffensive actions," he said. "This includes creating a buffer zone on the aggressor's territory: our operation in the Kursk region."

Zelenskyy took an expansive view of actions against Russia. "Everything that inflicts losses on the Russian army, Russian state, their military industrial complex, and their economy helps prevent the war from expanding and brings us closer to a just end to this aggression, a just peace for Ukraine," he said.