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Twenty countries have pledged new military assistance to Ukraine in its fight against Russian occupation, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said on May 23 after the second meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine.
In this virtual meeting, Kosovo was among the participating states. The Minister of Defense, Armend Mehaj, said that in this meeting he reiterated Kosovo’s support for Ukraine and said that “since February 24, we are clear that Russia poses a permanent threat to its neighboring countries, but also to security and stability in world ”.
Mehaj also said that in the meeting he stressed Kosovo’s readiness to shelter Ukrainian refugees and journalists “who are endangered every day by the Russian aggressor”, it was said in the announcement of the Ministry of Defense.
Denmark has agreed to provide Ukraine with the Harpoon grenade launcher and missiles to “help Ukraine defend its coastline,” Austin told a news conference after the virtual meeting.
The Czech Republic has also agreed to send “substantial support” to Ukraine, including “the latest donation of attack helicopters, tanks and missile systems,” Austin added.
In all, 20 states “announced new security assistance packages,” Austin said, including “the donation of much-needed artillery ammunition, naval defense systems, tanks and other armored vehicles.”
“Others announced commitments to train Ukrainian forces and maintain its military systems,” added Secretary Austin.
The meeting, which was chaired by U.S. Army Chief of Staff General Mark Milley, was attended by 47 states.
The participants were briefed by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, on the current situation of the quarterly war.
“Today, together with Minister Reznikov and his team, we learned about Ukraine’s priority requirements and the situation on the battlefield,” Austin said.
Ever since the group’s first meeting at the US military base in Germany, four weeks ago, Austin said, “the momentum of donations and deliveries is extraordinary.”
He said Ukraine’s needs had not changed much since the first meeting, saying artillery, support tanks, drones and other equipment were required.
“The war at this stage is being shaped by artillery, and we have seen fierce artillery exchanges in recent weeks,” Austin said.
He added that the Contact Group will meet physically on June 15, during the meeting of NATO ministers in Brussels.
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