At the fifth Ramstein-format meeting, the Head of the Pentagon announced that United States President Joe Biden approved a new 675 m dollar military aid package for Ukraine, says the Ministry of Defence of the USA on Twitter.
"Yesterday, the president approved a new tranche of aid to Ukraine, which is estimated at 675 m dollars," Lloyd Austin said.
According to him, Ukraine's allies have again gathered at the Ramstein air base, where the contact group was set up.
We are here to reaffirm our commitment and enhance the dynamics to sustain Ukraine’s brave defenders for the long haul, Austin emphasized.
The head of the Pentagon added that unprecedented security assistance has been provided to support Ukraine.
LIVE: @SecDef Lloyd J. Austin III Delivers Opening Remarks at 5th Ukraine Defense Contact Group Meeting https://t.co/WMqQhL6m6w
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) September 8, 2022
We're here because we refuse to live in a world where big powers trample borders by force. Our support for Ukraine's bedrock right to defend itself doesn't waver based on any given clash, stressed the minister of defence of the USA.
According to Austin, the United States, together with its allies, increased Ukraine's stockpiles of howitzers by 18 times during the full-scale invasion of Russia. Since the first meeting in the Ramstein format, which took place four months ago, a total of 26 long-range rocket artillery systems have been delivered to Ukrainians.
The new US military aid package will include:
¾ 105 mm howitzers;
¾ artillery ammunition for HIMARS;
¾ HARM missiles;
¾ Humvees machines;
¾ armored ambulances and artificial intelligence.
The head of the Pentagon thanked the UK for the previously provided M270 MLRS and ammunition, Germany and Denmark for the announced significant military assistance packages, Poland for generous donations of military equipment, including three divisions of 155-mm self-propelled howitzers. He also added that Slovakia, North Macedonia and other states have announced that they will send tanks and other heavy armored vehicles.
The Washington Post previously wrote that the U.S. Department of Defence is set to announce another 675 m dollars in weapons supplies for Ukraine on 8 September. The aid package will include rounds for artillery rocket launchers that the Ukrainian military has used to precisely target russian forces.
The Ukraine Defence Contact Group was established in April at the initiative of the United States. The first meeting took place in German Ramstein at the end of April, after which this format was called Ramstein.
The President's Office has already responded to the new US military assistance. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Presidential Office, thanked the allies for the tranche.
As is known, the fifth Ramstein-format meeting is taking place in Germany today.