Nine countries Ramstein commit to send over 150 tanks to Ukraine – US defense secretary
Nine countries are ready to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine: the international tank coalition in support of Ukraine continues to grow.
Pentagon chief Lloyd Austin stated this during an online meeting in the Rammstein format.
The head of the US Defense Ministry emphasized that these countries intend to transfer more than 150 Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
"The coalition of countries that have pledged to provide Leopard tanks to Ukraine continues to grow. Nine countries have now pledged to provide more than 150 Leopard tanks," Austin said.
LIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III virtually delivers the opening remarks during the tenth Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting. https://t.co/VyFwygNJ4d
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) March 15, 2023
In addition, Austin stated at the Ramstein meeting that Ukraine's struggle for freedom had reached a decisive moment.
At the beginning of the speech, he noted that "this Contact Group has always been committed to helping the Ukrainian Armed Forces get what they need and when they need it."
"Now we are at a decisive moment in Ukraine's struggle for freedom. All this demonstrates our unchanging determination and unity," Austin stressed.
On March 15, at a meeting in the format of "Ramstein," Ukraine's allies will hold the tenth defense contact group negotiations.
On January 25, after long hesitation, Germany approved the transfer of 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and their re-export from partner countries. On the same day, the USA announced the delivery of 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.
