A regular meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, the 18th in a row, began today, January 23. Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin delivered a speech at the event via online participation. This was reported on Twitter (X) by the US Department of Defense.
LIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III speaks from the Pentagon at a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. https://t.co/SBTX6R8Fs5
— Department of Defense (@DeptofDefense) January 23, 2024
Lloyd Austin expressed serious concern over Russia's actions in the military conflict and identified the need to provide Ukraine with additional support in the form of life-saving air defense systems and interceptor capabilities.
"Putin continues to sacrifice staggering numbers of Russian troops in his rash and reckless war of his choosing. Putin hopes that the missiles and drones will demoralize the Ukrainian people and break the morale of the Ukrainian military," he said in a statement.
The Pentagon chief also noted that allied countries should not "waver in our support for Ukraine."
