Time is not on Russia’s side – US Defense Secretary Austin was convinced of this despite the approaching winter. The allies promised more battle tanks, ammunition and long-term help.
Ukraine’s allies remain committed to continuing to support the country with military equipment against Russia. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin made this clear at the conclusion of the 15th meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group. He praised the Ukrainian armed forces, which were making “steady progress” on the front. The “courageous Ukrainian soldiers break through the heavily fortified lines” of the Russian army. Time is “not on the side” of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Austin emphasized.
He announced the “soon” arrival of US M1 “Abrams” main battle tanks. Washington had promised Kiev 31 of the tanks at the beginning of the year. They are part of the more than $43 billion (more than 40 billion euros) in military aid that the United States has pledged to Ukraine since the start of the Russian invasion in February 2022.
The Czech Republic, Denmark and the Netherlands announced further joint efforts to deliver arms. Initially, 15 modernized Soviet-made T-72EA main battle tanks would be delivered, the Czech Defense Ministry said. Further armored vehicles, anti-aircraft defenses and ammunition are to follow.
Austin: Preparing Ukraine for Winter
To date, the Contact Group has provided more than $76 billion in direct military aid, said the US Secretary of Defense. The country still primarily needs anti-aircraft defenses to protect the civilian population, said Austin. He called on allies and partners to donate as much air defense ammunition to Ukraine as possible. This is important because Ukraine is heading for another winter of war.
He also called on his colleagues to re-examine their stocks of 155-millimeter ammunition and key anti-aircraft systems and interceptors “to ensure that we are all doing everything in our power to prepare Ukraine for the coming winter.”
Austin had invited senior military officials and defense ministers from around 50 member countries of the so-called Ukraine Contact Group to the Ramstein air base in Rhineland-Palatinate. The new Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, who has been in office for two weeks, took part in the meeting for the first time.
No “new situation” at TaurusCruise missiles
Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had to cancel his participation at short notice due to a corona infection. Shortly before the meeting, he announced a new aid package worth 400 million euros. Germany was represented by Parliamentary State Secretary Siemtje Möller.
In Ramstein, Möller said that Germany would continue to stand firmly by Ukraine’s side as long as it was necessary. With regard to the war, she also emphasized: “The coming months will be hard, very hard.” The longer-range “Taurus” cruise missiles that Ukraine has been demanding from Germany for a long time played no role at the meeting, Möller told journalists. There is “no new status” on this issue.