Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin praised allies who have continued to support Ukraine’s battlefield needs in the monthslong absence of U.S. aid.
The secretary and Gen. Charles Brown, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with defense leaders from roughly 50 nations at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Tuesday, which marked the 20th meeting of the Defense Contact Group. Austin formed the group to meet monthly to discuss Ukraine’s most pressing needs.
“Our allies and partners are here because they understand the stakes, and Ukraine’s friends continue to come up with innovative solutions to make key new commitments to provide Ukraine with urgently needed capabilities, especially air defense, armor, and artillery ammunition, and we’re proud to stand with them,” the secretary told reporters. “Our allies and partners continue to step up.”
While the United States is the largest backer of military aid to Ukraine, Austin said 15 U.S. allies are providing a higher percentage of their gross domestic product.
Congress has been unable to pass additional funding that would allow the Department of Defense to provide Ukraine with more military equipment. President Joe Biden first introduced the supplemental funding request back in October, but House Republicans have repeatedly blocked efforts to get it passed, even turning down significant Democratic concessions on another topic they value, immigration reform.
Earlier this month, the Pentagon announced a new $300 million military aid package to Ukraine, its first of the calendar year, that only occurred after the department identified savings from previous contracts.
Despite the lack of progress on the supplemental, Austin reiterated the administration’s support for Ukraine in their efforts to fend off Russian aggression during the third year of war.
Russian forces have capitalized on Ukraine’s military shortages that have been exacerbated by the U.S.’s aid stoppage. They captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Avdiivka and have made incremental gains since then as well.
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“We have seen some incremental gains, and as I have engaged my counterparts and the chief of defense in Ukraine, they feel confident in their ability to continue to defend their sovereign territory,” Austin added. “Some 50 countries gathered for the 20th time to address security assistance for Ukraine, and in that meeting, I continued to hear unity and resolve and effort to find a way to continue to provide that support. So, we’re seeing allies and partners step up.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin, who recently won another election that Western countries disputed the fairness of, continues to pursue the full conquest of Ukraine despite a casualty toll that exceeds 300,000 people.