US, allies discuss new military aid package to Kiev: Austin
The US explores a fresh military aid package for Kiev with allies and claims an inquiry is awaited before commenting on who is to blame for the Nord Stream pipeline catastrophes.
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US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (Joshua Roberts/Reuters)
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Thursday that the US is exploring a fresh military aid package for Kiev with partners, including training for the Ukrainian military.
"As you've seen us do over time, we have continued to look for ways along with our international partners to provide additional security assistance to Ukraine. Whether this assistance is in the form of actual equipment or other logistical support or training, we continue to evaluate what will be needed and make provisions to provide that security assistance, and so, that will be ongoing," Austin told a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Jose Faustino in Hawaii.
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Austin went on to say that the US will not speculate on how long the situation in Ukraine will last.
"In terms of how long the conflict will last, don't want to speculate either. What I will tell you is that we will continue to support Ukraine, as you've heard our president say, for as long as it takes," Austin said.
US will not speculate on those responsible for incidents at Nord Stream pipelines: Austin
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin stated on Thursday that the US will not comment on who is to blame for the Nord Stream pipeline catastrophes until an inquiry is completed.
"In terms of the attack or the damage to the pipeline, at this point, I think there is a lot of speculation but quite frankly until a complete investigation is done, no one will be able to really determine what happened for certain," Austin told a joint press conference with Philippine Defense Secretary Jose Faustino in Hawaii.
Austin noted that he discussed the issue with his Danish counterparts on Wednesday, adding that "it will be several days before they will able to get the right team and look at the sites and really try to determine what happened."
Read next: Fourth explosion detected on Nord Stream pipelines
"Until we get further information or are able to do further analysis, we won't speculate on who may have been responsible," Austin said.
The Nord Stream AG pipeline operator told Sputnik on Monday that a dispatcher had registered a rapid gas pressure drop on Line A of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. The incident occurred near the Danish island of Bornholm. Later that day, the operator reported a pressure drop on both strings of the Nord Stream 1 pipeline.
Authorities in Sweden and Denmark reported submarine explosions, with the general consensus being that the occurrence was the product of sabotage. The Russian Prosecutor General's Office, as well as authorities in Sweden and Denmark, are looking into the occurrences.
