U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin convened the third meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in Brussels today. “We’re here today because of our unwavering determination to get Ukraine the capabilities that it urgently needs to defend itself,” Austin said in his opening remarks. “Ukraine is facing a pivotal moment on the battlefield,” he continued, lying that Russia is indiscriminately bombing Ukrainian territory with long-range artillery. Therefore, “we must intensify our shared commitment to Ukraine’s self-defense and we must push ourselves even harder to ensure that Ukraine can defend itself, its citizens and its territory.” (https://www.defense.gov/News/Speeches/Speech/Article/3064904/opening-remarks-by-secretary-of-defense-lloyd-j-austin-iii-at-the-ukraine-defen/)
Austin said that ministers of defense and defense chiefs from 45 countries were in attendance, and U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken announced later in the day that the U.S. was committing to an additional $1 billion in aid to Ukraine. Said Austin: “The focus is first and foremost on Ukraine’s urgent requirements to continue the battle, that it’s fighting against Russia right now,” a senior defense official was quoted telling reporters on background yesterday. The Pentagon reported that since the battlefield has changed since the last contact group meeting in May, the focus now is on providing long-range weapons to Ukraine. “’It is an artillery battle now,’ the officials said. ‘The secretary convened defense ministers to focus on what would be required for the new battle, focusing on artillery, armor, [unmanned aerial vehicles] and sustainment.’” (https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/3062372/austin-to-host-ukraine-contact-group-meeting-in-brussels/fbclid/austin-to-host-ukraine-contact-group-meeting-in-brussels/#:~:text=%22The%20focus%20is%20first%20and,forces%20in%20the%20Donbas%20region.)
