“Ukraine’s survival is in danger and America’s security is at risk. And they don't have a day to waste. And we don't have a day to spare either,” U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told a press conference after a monthly meeting known as the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG), held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Tuesday.
During the meeting, Austin sought to convince allies that the United States was committed to Kyiv, even as Washington Republicans are refusing to give additional funds to continue arming Ukrainian forces.
“Our allies and partners continue to step up, the United States must also,” the defense secretary pointed out.
U.S. Officials say the lack of funding is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce resources.
Last week the Biden administration said it would send USD 300 million in military assistance to Ukraine, but added that it was an extraordinary move after unexpected savings from military contracts the Pentagon had made.
European support has become key, especially after Biden was unable to get a big Ukraine aid package through Congress, and the war in Gaza became a central topic for the White House.
During the Ramstein meeting, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reported that his country will transfer 10,000 artillery shells, 100 infantry fighting vehicles, and 100 armored personnel carriers, and order 100,000 munitions from domestic manufacturers to be sent to Ukraine, as part of a EUR 500 million aid package for Kyiv.
Still, U.S. officials say that the reality is that without the United States, European support for Ukraine will not be enough to fend off Russian forces.
“Our allies and partners continue to step up, the United States must also,” the defense secretary pointed out.
However, Austin did not say how Washington would support Ukraine without additional funding.NEWS: U.S. Will Not Back Down on Support for Ukraine https://t.co/xWOxeQ0xg8
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) March 19, 2024
U.S. Officials say the lack of funding is already having an impact on the ground in Ukraine and Ukrainian forces are having to manage scarce resources.
Last week the Biden administration said it would send USD 300 million in military assistance to Ukraine, but added that it was an extraordinary move after unexpected savings from military contracts the Pentagon had made.
Invaluable supportLIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman @GenCQBrownJr brief the news media following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Ramstein, Germany. https://t.co/BN2ewqgQbe
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) March 19, 2024
European support has become key, especially after Biden was unable to get a big Ukraine aid package through Congress, and the war in Gaza became a central topic for the White House.
During the Ramstein meeting, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius reported that his country will transfer 10,000 artillery shells, 100 infantry fighting vehicles, and 100 armored personnel carriers, and order 100,000 munitions from domestic manufacturers to be sent to Ukraine, as part of a EUR 500 million aid package for Kyiv.
Still, U.S. officials say that the reality is that without the United States, European support for Ukraine will not be enough to fend off Russian forces.
Source: Reuters
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