WASHINGTON, November 20. /TASS/. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky in Kiev and reiterated that the US is ready to support the country.

"I was honored to meet with President Zelensky in Kiev today to reaffirm the United States’ steadfast support for Ukraine," the Pentagon chief wrote on his X page (formerly Twitter).

Austin noted that the US, along with allies and partners, will continue to "support Ukraine’s urgent battlefield needs and long-term defense requirements."

The Pentagon chief has published two photos from the meeting. One of them shows representatives of the US and the Ukrainian leadership sitting at a table. On the Ukrainian side, apart from Zelensky, the meeting was attended by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and representatives of the presidential administration.

Earlier, the Pentagon said that Austin intended to discuss with the Ukrainian leadership military aid for the winter period and the countries' strategic partnership. The Pentagon chief announced his arrival in Kiev on Monday morning; his visit was not announced in advance.

Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the US National Security Council John Kirby said earlier that the US administration has spent about 96% of the financial resources that were allocated for assistance to Kiev. Kirby emphasized that the absence of further large-scale assistance from the US would have a detrimental impact on Ukraine's defense capabilities.