The ministers of defense and the military announced the results of the meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format.

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, said that Ukraine’s allies demonstrate the unity and the resolve in supporting Ukrainian defense in the face of Russian aggression.

“We are confident that this Contact Group on Defense has given Ukraine the capabilities it needs to succeed,” said Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Austin stated that the Allies are concerned both with providing for Ukraine’s immediate needs and responding to the changing situation on the battlefield and supporting Ukraine’s long-term defense capabilities.

In particular, regarding the provision of equipment to Ukraine, said the Secretary of Defense, it is important to make sure that the Ukrainians have the ability to restore damaged equipment, repair it when possible, and send it back to the front line.

“Combat damage will continue. I think the Russians showed us the same 5 pieces of equipment about a thousand times from ten different angles. But, to be honest, the Ukrainians still have a lot of combat capabilities,” added the Secretary of Defense.

Battlefield

Regarding the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, in his turn cited the words of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky about the beginning of the counteroffensive, but noted that “it is still too early to make any final assessments.”

“We said that the war is dynamic. This is a contest of wills – it is uncertain, cruel and always has a high price. But we are sure that Ukrainian courage, competence and preparedness will win,” Milley added.

Austin thanked the Netherlands and Denmark, as well as Germany and Poland, which are coordinating the efforts of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation aircraft and provide and maintain Leopard tanks – initiatives that, according to the official, respond to changes in a battlefield situation.

The Netherlands and Denmark are coordinating the training of Ukrainians on fourth-generation F-16 aircraft. Poland and Germany take care of coordinating the provision and support of Leopard tanks, the head of the Secretary of Defense noted.

Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, also added:

“Today we received assurances from our partners about the start of training and together we will build this consortium of fighters. We will start it with the F-16, with the Netherlands and Denmark as leaders, and other countries will join as well. In addition, we have heard good news from our Swedish partners also that we will have the opportunity to test – just try – their capabilities as well.”