The US said the world is taking action against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine by holding defense talks in Germany, attended by more than 40 countries, in order to speed up and synchronize arms shipments to Kiev.
After a visit to Kiev, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin hosted the event at Ramstein Air Base, where he promised additional military support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who found himself at a crossroads.
At the start of the talks, Austin said, “As we saw this morning, nations around the world are united in our determination to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s imperial aggression.” said.
“Ukraine clearly believes it can win, and everyone here believes it too.”
US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley has warned that Ukraine needs more security assistance to help it defend against an ongoing and potentially decisive Russian offensive in the east. He said the next few weeks will be “critical”.
“Time is not on Ukraine’s side,” Milley said during a closed meeting, according to a statement given to reporters traveling with him. “Right here today, the outcome of this war depends on the people in this room.”
“The Ukrainians will fight. We have to make sure they have the strength to fight,” Milley said.
The meeting, organized by the USA, was attended by representatives from more than 40 countries, mainly in Europe, but also from elsewhere, including Israel, Kenya and Australia. Ambassadors from South Korea and Japan participated virtually on one screen.
After the meeting, Austin said at a press conference that the forum will continue as a monthly “contact group” to discuss Ukraine’s defense needs.
Germany announced for the first time that it had delivered heavy weapons to Ukraine.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24 killed thousands, displaced millions, and fueled fears of a wider conflict between Russia and the United States, by far the world’s two largest nuclear powers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine was necessary because the United States would use Ukraine to threaten Russia and Ukraine would be guilty of genocide against the Russian-speaking people in the country.
Ukraine says it is fighting a Russian land grab and claims Putin’s genocide allegations are nonsense.
(Additional reporting by Sabine Siebold in Berlin)
source: Noticias
