What's happened
US and German defense ministers visit Ukraine to show support in its war against Russia
Why it matters
The visits by the US and German defense ministers highlight the international effort to keep the war in Ukraine in the public mind and provide support to Ukraine in its fight against Russia. The war has lasted almost 21 months, and Ukraine is facing another tough winter of attritional warfare.
What the papers say
AP News says that German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius aims to assess the effectiveness of Germany's aid to Ukraine and express solidarity. France 24 highlights the US commitment to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Russia's aggression. Gulf News mentions that US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is making the visit to press Ukraine's urgent military needs. The sources provide consistent coverage of the visits and their purpose.
How we got here
The visits come 10 years after Ukraine's Revolution of Dignity, which brought momentous change for Ukraine and pushed it closer to the West, leading to confrontation with Moscow. The war between Ukraine and Russia has been ongoing for almost 21 months.
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Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest country in Europe after Russia, which it borders to the east and north-east.
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Lloyd James Austin III is a retired four-star general of the United States Army. He was the 12th commander of United States Central Command. Austin was the first Black commander to head the organization.
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