US defence chief Austin makes unannounced visit to Kiev

The US secretary of defence, Lloyd Austin, arrived in Ukraine on Monday for an unannounced visit, his fourth since assuming the position in 2021 and at a precarious moment for the country.

Austin wrote on X that his trip was meant to demonstrate "that the United States, alongside the international community, continues to stand by Ukraine."

Austin will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, US media travelling with the secretary reported.

His visit to Kiev comes in the waning months of the Biden administration and with all eyes on the dead-heat race for the White House.

Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris has vowed to continue military aid to Ukraine should she win on November 5, while her Republican rival Donald Trump has expressed antipathy for further support.

The United States has been the largest military and financial backer of Ukraine since the start of the all-out Russian invasion in February 2022.

Russian forces have made slow but steady territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky has pressed his allies in the West allow Ukraine to strike targets deep inside Russia, but to no avail.