21st Ramstein: Ukraine to Receive New $1 Billion Military Aid Package from the US
During the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format, held online on April 26, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced a new $1 billion military aid package for Ukraine. This was reported by Ukrinform.
Austin stated that this package would include rockets for HIMARS, air defence systems along with projectiles for them, and other weaponry crucial for Ukraine to deter Russian aggression.
"I am pleased to announce today that the United States will provide another $1 billion aid package, which will include additional ammunition for HIMARS, 155-millimeter shells, air defence systems, and armoured vehicles," said the Pentagon chief.
Lloyd Austin positively acknowledged the assistance from other participating countries of the Contact Group, noting their contributions to Ukraine's defence, especially as a new US support program worth over $60 billion had not yet been approved.
"Just look at the extraordinary initiative of the Czech Republic in purchasing thousands of artillery shells from third countries. The United Kingdom has announced its largest-ever arms package, worth approximately $620 million. Or take note of Germany's bold statement that it will provide Ukraine with another Patriot system," said the US Defence Secretary.
Lloyd Austin noted that over the past two years, more than 50 countries worldwide had provided Ukraine with over 70 medium and long-range missile defence systems. Additionally, over a thousand rockets and three thousand units of armoured vehicles, including over 800 combat tanks, had been transferred.
The US Defence Secretary also mentioned that this year, Ukraine expects the arrival of F-16 fighters along with Ukrainian pilots who have undergone training in European countries and the US, as well as engineers trained by Contact Group member countries.
"All of this is evidence of our shared commitment to Ukraine's success on the battlefield. And thanks to the coalition of capabilities of the contact groups, we now have a nimble and flexible structure to adapt to new challenges and create the forces of the future that Ukraine needs for its long-term security," stated the head of the US Defence Department.
Recall that The Gaze reported that on April 24, the President of the United States, Joe Biden, signed a bill providing assistance to Ukraine totalling over $60 billion.