UA
FR
DEThe members of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (“Ramstein format”) have provided more than $55 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III made a relevant statement, opening a regular meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday, 21 April.
“In total, the members of this Contact Group have provided more than $55 billion in security assistance for Ukraine. That’s a tenfold increase since we first met,” Austin noted.
He also noted that this week the USA announced a new security aid package for Ukraine worth $325 million.
“We’ve now provided more than $35 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion began,” the Pentagon chief added.
He emphasised that more than a year into the full-scale invasion, Ukraine is still standing strong and the support of its partners has not wavered, so he is proud of the progress made.
According to the U.S. Secretary of Defence, after more than a year of Russian aggression, “this Contact Group is as united as ever and more global than ever.”
“Together, we will defend the rules-based international order that keeps us all secure. And together, we will support Ukraine for as long as it takes,” Austin summed up.
Before the start of the meeting, Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov posted on Twitter that the allies will discuss at the Contact Group meeting not only the immediate needs but also the strategy for the entire year 2023.
Bohdan Marusyak
