Defense officials from 54 countries attend 19th Ukraine Contact Group Meeting hosted by US

Europe, News, US February 16, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Defense representatives from 54 different countries attended the meeting to coordinate military assistance for Ukraine, in its ongoing war with Russia, in the form of weapon deliveries.

United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted the 19th Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting virtually on February 14, 2024. Also known as the Rammstein group, the UDCG was established by the U.S. Defense Secretary following the Russian invasion of Ukraine as a platform to gather military support for Ukraine.

Following the 19th meeting of the group, Austin released a statement saying that “America’s unparalleled network of allies and partners remains a strategic asset that no rival can match. America’s allies extend our strength, magnify our power, and deepen our security. “

Austin, who initially had planned to chair the meeting in person in Brussels, had to attend the event in a virtual capacity due to ongoing medical complications. He was readmitted to the hospital with bladder issues this week, only a few days after being released earlier.

.@SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III delivers opening remarks during the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. pic.twitter.com/UgtKhwNfMj
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) February 14, 2024

“This historic, U.S.-led coalition of some 50 countries from around the globe has committed more than $85 billion in security assistance to Ukraine since Putin began his appalling all-out invasion in February 2022. In fact, as a percentage of GDP, more than a dozen of our allies contribute more to Ukraine’s self-defense than the United States,” Austin said in his statement following the meeting.

Similar to the previous meeting, the U.S. did not commit to additional assistance for Ukraine amid domestic infighting on numerous budgetary issues in the US Congress. The reduction in U.S. support for Ukraine has largely resulted in the EU and its member states, primarily Germany and France, taking the lead in future support for Ukraine. Kyiv has asked for weaponry to bolster the country’s air defenses as Russia continues to assault Ukrainian cities with drones and missiles.

In the latest UDCG meeting, Canada pledged $60 million for Ukraine. Canada’s National Defense Minister announced that his government would allocate these funds to support Ukraine’s Air Force capabilities.

Previously Canada has announced support for the F-16 Training Coalition for Ukraine. Last month, Minister Blair announced that Canada will contribute to training by providing civilian instructors, planes, and support staff contracted from Montreal-based Top Aces Inc.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Austin with Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov — *^{U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin with Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov in Kyiv on November 20, 2023. (Image Credit: Twitter/@rustem_umerov)}*

One day after the UDCG meeting, NATO defense ministers met in Brussels, where the war in Ukraine remained a major topic of discussion. “Allies continue to make major deliveries of weapons, equipment, and ammunition,” NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters ahead of the meeting.

“This support makes a real difference,” he said. “With our help, the brave Ukrainians have retaken half of the territory that Russia seized, opened a corridor in the Black Sea, and are inflicting heavy losses on Russian forces,” Stoltenberg added.