Italy and France to announce transfer of SAMP/T air defense systems to Ukraine

According to the results of the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (namely, the Ramstein-9 summit), Italy and France announced the transfer of new SAMP/T air defense systems to Ukraine.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced this at a press conference in Brussels on Tuesday, "Ukrinform" reports.

"Today we heard about new significant contributions in the sphere of air defense, including contributions from Italy and France, which jointly announced that they will provide Ukraine with the SAMP/T air defense system," Austin said.

Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

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On February 14, representatives of the defense departments of about 50 partner countries gathered at the NATO headquarters in Brussels for another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (i.e., the Ramstein-9 summit).

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UCG) was formed after russia invaded Ukraine. As of June 15, 2022, it included the defense ministers of more than 50 countries headed by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. It gathered for the first time at the American Ramstein Air Base in Germany shortly after the start of the war.

On the eve of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in the Ramstein format, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, held a telephone conversation with the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe and Commander of U.S. European Command, General Christopher Cavoli. During this conversation, Zaluzhnyi shared his vision of Ukraine's victory, which included not only the liberation of its territories but also the creation of such conditions and such Armed Forces so that russians would never dare to attack Ukraine at any time in the future.