The allied countries of Ukraine, meeting today, on January 20, in the Ramstein format, are unwavering in their determination to help Ukraine defend itself against russian imperial aggression. This was stated by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the eighth meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine, - the AFU General Staff reported.
"We will continue to defend Ukraine’s right to protection. We will continue to defend the principle that borders cannot be redrawn by force. And we will continue to defend an open world of rules, rights and obligations", - he said in his opening speech.
Austin recalled that last month, the United States announced the provision of a Patriot air defense battery and related ammunition, as well as Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and other armored vehicles, to Ukraine.
"And today, I’m excited to announce another big new round of the U.S. security assistance to help meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs on the battlefield. This new security assistance package, worth up to $2.5 billion, is one of the largest. Thus, total U.S. security assistance to Ukraine has reached more than $26.7 billion since russia’s unprovoked invasion last February", - the U.S. defense minister noted.
"Our new package provides even more air defense capabilities to help Ukraine defend its cities and skies. That includes the NASAMS munitions and eight Avenger air defense systems. This new assistance package also helps meet Ukraine’s urgent need for armored vehicles and combat vehicles. So we are providing 59 more Bradleys, 90 Strykers, 53 MRAPs and 350 armored Humvees. This new package will also provide thousands more artillery shells. The United States remains determined to lead and do its part to help Ukraine defend itself", - he added.
In addition, the United States will also provide general military training and joint exercises to the Ukrainian forces.