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January 19 (United Press International) — US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Meeting with newly sworn-in German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Berlin on Thursday Ukraine The defense liaison group met Friday at Ramstein Air Force Base.
The Pentagon said in a release that the meetings focused on ensuring Ukraine has the weapons and support it needs to fend off another Russian offensive expected in the spring.This includes the decision to “unlock” Germany’s sanctioned dispatch Leopard 2 main battle tank to Ukraine.
Poland and Finland have expressed their willingness to supply Ukraine with Leopard tanks, but first German approval is required.
During a brief appearance in Pistorius on Thursday, Austin said the focus of his trip was to regain U.S., NATO and European support for Ukraine.
“We will reaffirm our mutual commitment to long-term support for Ukraine’s self-defense,” Austin says“So in our meeting today, we’re going to join our friends in discussing some of the issues that we’ll be addressing in the contact group tomorrow. We’re also going to discuss other key issues of NATO and our bilateral defense relationship and what we can do way even together.”
Austin expresses his deep sorrow Helicopter crashes in Kyiv On Wednesday, more than a dozen people were killed, including Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denis Monastirsky.
He thanked Germany for working closely with the U.S. and other allies in support of Ukraine, and told Pistorius that Germany’s contribution to security assistance and training for Ukrainian defenders was invaluable.
“During the crisis caused by Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Germany has been a true friend of the United States and a staunch defender of our allies and values,” Austin said. “We will therefore continue to support the people of Ukraine in resisting Russian aggression and defending their sovereign territory.”
One of the key issues to be addressed during the meeting of the Defense Contact Group will be how to quickly deliver armored personnel carriers, combat vehicles and tanks to Ukraine.
american newest defense assistance program Ukraine includes 100 M113 armored personnel carriers, 50 bradley combat vehicles, 55 mine-resistant ambush vehicles and 138 high-mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles, as well as many other military materiel.
France is sending AMX-10 light tanks to Ukraine, while Britain will provide Challenger tanks. All told, U.S. allies and partners have provided Ukraine with about 900 armored personnel carriers, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
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