We’re working shoulder-to-shoulder with both the U.K., and now Germany, as we develop Ukraine’s long-range fires capabilities. I want to thank Germany, which announced today it will provide three Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and guided MLRS munitions to Ukraine. Other friends have made new commitments to train Ukraine’s forces and sustain its military systems.īut there are too many countries to properly thank here, but I’ll just take a moment to highlight a few. We heard some significant announcements this afternoon about new security assistance packages for Ukraine, and many countries are providing Ukraine with urgently needed systems and ammunition. Now, our allies and partners have also risen to the moment. This package also includes $650 million in Ukraine security assistance initiative funds, and that will help Ukraine defend itself with two additional Harpoon coastal defense systems and thousands of secure radios and night vision devices and thermal sights and other optics. This package also included Javelins, helicopters and counter-battery radars and ammunition, and I’m especially pleased to be able to announce today that the United States will provide an additional $1 billion security assistance package for Ukraine, and that includes our 12th drawdown from DOD inventory since August of 2021, and it includes guided MLRS munitions, 18 more M777 howitzers and the tactical vehicles to tow them, and 36,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition. Congress approved $40 billion to provide additional security assistance, economic and humanitarian support for Ukraine, and on June 1st, President Biden authorized an additional $700 million to meet Ukraine’s critical needs for today’s fight, and that included HIMARS rocket systems with guided MLRS munitions. ![]() You can see that in the progress that we’ve made since this contact group’s previous virtual meeting a few weeks ago. And that’s a reminder of how Russia’s unprovoked and indefensible invasion of Ukraine has horrified and galvanized the world, but it’s also a sign of the global admiration for the heroism and resilience of the Ukrainian people. It’s a testament to the on-the-ground impact of this contact group that it continues to grow, and I’m glad that we were joined at today’s meeting by several new countries, including Ecuador and Georgia and Moldova. ![]() I’m especially pleased that defense leaders from some 50 countries came together here today. We also had some important discussions about how to fortify our mid-term and long-term support for Ukraine through training and sustainment. And once again, we met with Ukraine’s Minister of Defense, my good friend, Oleksii Reznikov.Įveryone here is acutely aware of the dangers that Ukraine faces as Russia renews its reckless assault on the Donbas, and Minister Reznikov and his team gave us important insights into the changing battlespace and a clearer understanding of Ukraine’s priority requirements as the war shifts. We’ve had a very productive afternoon at the third meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, and it’s great to be back together in person after our initial meeting at Ramstein in April. AUSTIN III: Glad to be joined by General Mark Milley, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff here this evening.
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