Pentagon chief: Allies have pledged US$95 billion in military aid to Ukraine since war started

On 20 May, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin opened the 22nd meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format), underlining the importance of ensuring a long-term supply of weaponry to Kyiv.

Source: European Pravda, citing Austin's opening remarks at the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting

Details: The Pentagon chief noted that the gathering of Ukraine's allies is taking place "at a moment of challenge" as Russian forces have launched another offensive, trying to make further advances and "carve out a buffer zone along the Ukrainian border".

"But Ukraine's defenders are showing extraordinary courage and skill. And they're putting the capabilities that this Contact Group has provided to good use," Austin continued.

Austin added that the US continues to provide Ukraine's Armed Forces with the assistance they need and has already delivered many of Kyiv's priority requirements, including ammunition for NASAMS and Patriot air defence systems, HIMARS systems, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, and Javelin and AT-4 anti-tank systems.

"Together, we have now committed more than $95 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since the start of Putin's full-scale invasion in February 2022," he declared.

Austin said air defence would be high on the agenda, and the meeting would also be focusing on the work of the eight Capability Coalitions that were set up within the Contact Group to "build toward Ukraine's long-term security".

"I'm looking forward to hearing updates today from the maritime coalition and the integrated air and missile-defence coalition," he said.

The meeting will bring together defence ministers and defence chiefs from around 50 nations to continue their close collaboration in order to give Ukraine the resources it needs to protect its sovereign territory.

Following the 21st Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting on 26 April, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin confirmed that the US was allocating US$6 billion in military aid under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, through which weapons are ordered from American manufacturers.

At the same meeting, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, reported on the frontline situation, which was "tending to escalate".

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