The United States is supplying more weapons to Ukraine, worth $ 675 million (about 682 million euros), Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced on Thursday during the Ukraine Contact Group meeting in Ramstein. Since April, Washington has already supplied weapons totaling $6.3 billion. The Allies’ military support to Ukraine is bearing fruit, he emphasized: “We see the demonstrable success of our efforts on the battlefield.”
“The war has reached a key moment,” Austin said, referring to the counter-offensive the Ukrainian armed forces have launched against the Russian invaders. That is why the contact group must also reposition itself. In his opening speech, he repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine needed support for a “long distance” and that the country has “a tough road to go”. But you can already see the success of the joint effort on the battlefield. “In our discussion today, we will also discuss the next steps in setting up an international training mission for the Ukrainian Armed Forces,” Austin announced.
US President Joe Biden did not announce aid to Ukraine to the tune of nearly $3 billion until late August. This would allow Kiev to acquire air defense systems, artillery systems and ammunition, drones and radars “to be able to defend itself in the long term”.
Discussions about further aid to Ukraine
Defense ministers and senior military officials from more than 50 countries meet at the US Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany to discuss further support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. Austin started the contact group in April. Austin had now invited all members to the conference at the largest US Air Force base outside the United States. These include the US, Germany and Great Britain.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg will also be there. As with the first meeting of this kind in Ramstein in late April, apparently non-NATO countries were also invited. A representative of the Austrian Ministry of Defense will participate as an observer.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
