Pentagon pledges $250 mln in military aid as Ukraine seizes initiative on frontline

The US Defense Secretary, Lloyd Austin, announced that the US would provide Ukraine with a new aid package worth $250 million. He also noted that Ukraine is gradually taking over the initiative on the front, although Russia continues to pressure Donbas.

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin stated this at the beginning of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

United States President Joe Biden is expected to approve this additional aid package as soon as September 6.

"It will expand capabilities to meet Ukraine's ever-evolving needs. And we will deliver them at wartime speed," Austin said.

According to the American minister, the current meeting is taking place at a "dynamic and critical moment" when time is crucial.

"Ukraine continues to take over the initiative on the battlefield gradually. Ukraine's armed forces are currently conducting an operation in the Kursk region. The Kremlin's army of aggression is now on the defensive on its land," Austin noted.

The US Defense Minister emphasized that Ukraine is gradually taking over the initiative at the front.

At the same time, he admitted, Moscow continues its offensive in the east of Ukraine, especially around Pokrovsk. Putin, according to Austin, is also regrouping his troops near Kursk; the Kremlin continues to bombard Ukrainian cities and the civilian population. But Ukraine refuses to bend, the politician emphasized.

Russia, the US defense secretary recalled, has already paid an enormous price for Putin's imperial fantasies since the start of a full-scale invasion, according to Austin. This includes:

• over 350,000 soldiers killed or injured,
• 32 naval vessels sunk,
• destroyed or damaged,
• the withdrawal of all Russian capital ships from Crimea,
• the destruction of one ferry and another being out of commission,
• and 97 combat aircraft shot down.

Austin assured that the partners are on Ukraine's side and called on everyone to strengthen further and accelerate aid.

This is already the 24th meeting in the Ramstein format. Defense ministers and military officials from about 50 countries are discussing aid to Ukraine and the international community's coordination of it.

The meeting features the new commander of the Security Assistance Group of Ukraine (SAG-U), Lieutenant General Curtis A. Buzzard, who was appointed to this position on August 5, 2024.

For reference:

Today, September 6, the 24th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is taking place at the Ramstein military base in Germany. Over 50 defense ministers from various countries are in attendance, with the group being led by the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin.

The Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, is also present at Ramstein. According to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's priorities are air defense systems, missiles, ammunition, equipment, and strengthening of long-range capabilities.

During his visit, the head of state will meet with Lloyd Austin and Boris Pistorius, the defense ministers of the USA and Germany, and separately hold talks with Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

"We need the determination of our partners and the means to stop Russian aerial terror. We need all the weapons from the already announced support packages to get to the combat brigades finally. And we need strong long-range solutions from our partners to bring the just peace we seek closer," Zelensky said.

After the Ramstein meeting, the President of Ukraine will visit the international economic forum "Ambrosetti" in Italy. There, he will meet with representatives of Italian business and the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloni.

At the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that Germany would transfer 12 more Panzerhaubitze 2000 howitzers to Ukraine and that Berlin and other partners would provide Ukraine's armed forces with 77 more Leopard 1A5 tanks.