Defense leaders pledge new Ukraine support

ByJimGaramone DOD News

This is a crucial and tumultuous time for Ukraine,butwesternleadersaredemonstrating they will stand by Ukraine as it faces the challengefromRussia.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III and Army Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairmanoftheJointChiefsofStaff,todaypraised the result of the eighth meeting of Ukraine DefenseContactGroup,sayingthemorethan 50nationsinvolvedarestandingstrongalongsideUkraine

At the conclusion of the meeting at RamsteinAirBase,Germany,Austinsaidthe contactgroupmembersdeepenedtheircoordinationandcommitmenttoUkraine andthe nations are working together very smoothly to deliver to Ukraine the equipment it needs to defend its citizens and expel Russia from Ukraine’sborders

“This contact group will not slow down,” Austin said. “We’re going to continue to dig deep Andbasedupontheprogressthatwe’ve madetoday I’mconfidentthatUkraine’spartnersfromaroundtheglobearedeterminedto meetthismoment.”

Austin is chairman of the contact group, which first met at Ramstein in April 2022. The secretary was able to share the most recent tranche of equipment President Joe Biden authorized to send to Ukraine This amountstoaround$2.5billionworthofgear, including Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, Strykerarmoredpersonnelcarriers mine-resistantambush-protectedvehicles Humvees andmore

Maintaining the impetus to defeat the Russian invasion of Ukraine requires munitionsandsupplies.IncludedintheU.S.package are 20,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery shellsand600precision-guided155mmartilleryrounds.

Thepresidentialdrawdownauthorityalso transfers 95,000 105 mm artillery rounds and about 11,800 120 mm mortar rounds to

Ukraine The package also will deliver more ammunitionforhighmobilityartilleryrocket systemsand12ammunitionsupportvehicles

The Ukrainian military will also receive more than 3 million rounds of small arms ammunition.

The United States will transfer a number of high-speed, anti-radiation missiles to Ukraine Thesemissilesaredesignedtohome inonantiaircraftradars

The contact group focused on Ukraine’s need for air defense Many nations have providedmilitarycapabilitiesinthisarea.The groupworksto“synchronizethosedonations andturnthemintofullyoperationalcapabilities,”Austinsaid.“Andthatmeanseverystep —from donation to training to maintenance andthentosustainment.”

How these capabilities work together in an integrated air defense system was also discussed.

“Severalcountrieshavecomeforwardwith key donations that will help protect Ukraine skies and cities and citizens,” the secretary said.“France,Germanyandthe[UnitedKingdom] have all donated air defense systems to Ukraine And that also includes a Patriot battery from Germany that’s especially importantcomingalongsideourowncontributionofaPatriotsystem TheNetherlandsis also donating Patriot missiles and launchers andtraining.”

In addition, Canada has procured a National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile SystemandassociatedmunitionsforUkraine “These air defense systems will help save countlessinnocentlives, Austinsaid.

ThecontactgroupalsodiscussedUkraine’s requirements for tanks and other armored vehicles Austin noted the United Kingdom is sending Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine the first Western nation to do so Sweden announced it is donating CB-90 infantry fightingvehicles,andDenmarkwill donate19howitzers

Latvia a frontline state is donating more Stingers helicopters and other equip- menttoUkraine

Finally, Estonia, also a frontline state, is providing Ukraine with a significant new package of much needed 155 mm howitzers andmunitions

“Now, all of today’s announcements are direct results of our work at the contact group,” Austin said. “And these important new commitments demonstrate the ongoing resolve of our allies and partners to help Ukraine defend itself because this isn’t just aboutUkraine’ssecurity;it’salsoaboutEuropeansecurity,andit’saboutglobalsecurity.”

Milley said he was impressed by the unity of NATO members and the contact group. “I think that, over my 43 years in uniform, this is the most unified I’ve ever seen NATO,” he said

He noted that the war has evolved over the last 11 months. “Still, the mission of this contactgroupunderSecretaryAustin’sleadership has remained the same: We are effectively committed to support Ukraine with capabilitiestodefenditselfagainstillegaland unprovoked Russian aggression,” the chairmansaid

MilleysaidtheUnitedStatesisinthisoperation for the long haul. The contact group is a “clear, unambiguous demonstration of the unityandresolvewiththealliednations,”he said.

Milley also said the recent security assistance package combined with earlier ones includes combined arms maneuver capabilities with supporting artillery that is equivalenttoatleasttwocombinedarmsmaneuver brigades, or six mechanized infantry battalions.

“Eventually, Russia will realize the full extent of their strategic miscalculation, but untilPutinputsanendtothiswar hiswarof choice thenationsofthiscontactgroupwill continue to support the defense of Ukraine inordertoupholdrules-based,international order,”hesaid.

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