Members of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine have provided Ukraine with assistance in the field of security in the amount of more than 55 billion dollars. The meeting will focus on three issues: air defense (ADF), munitions and support assets.

 This was stated by US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin during the opening of the meeting of the Contact Group.

 "It's been more than a year and Ukraine is still going strong. Our support has not wavered. And I'm proud of the progress we've made together. In total, the members of this Contact Group have provided more than $55 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. That's a tenfold increase since our first meeting. At today's meeting, we will focus on three key issues: air defense, ammunition and means of support. Ukraine urgently needs our help to protect citizens, infrastructure and the Armed Forces from Russian missiles," the minister said.

 The head of the Pentagon emphasized that "after more than a year of Russian aggression and deception, this Contact Group is more united than ever and has become more global than ever." "And our support for the forces of freedom in Ukraine is strong and genuine," Austin said.

 He also reminded that earlier this week the USA announced another package of assistance in the field of security for Ukraine - in the amount of 325 million dollars. "Since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion, we have provided over $35 billion in security assistance to Ukraine," Austin said.

 "Together we will protect the rules-based international order that ensures the safety of all of us. And together we will support Ukraine as long as necessary," he emphasized.

 The meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine known as "Ramstein" is being held at the air base of the same name in Germany on April 21.

Before the meeting, President Volodymyr Zelenskyі noted that some decisions at the Ramstein-style meeting should be accelerated so that the appropriate weapons that will strengthen the Ukrainian army on the battlefield arrive sooner.

 Lloyd Austin noted that he is "looking forward" to an update from US Army Brigadier General Antonio Aguto, who is also the commander of the Security Assistance Group in Ukraine, regarding work to develop Ukraine's armored combat capability.

 "We will also hear an update on our progress in the long-term support of Ukrainian equipment. We all know what is at stake. For more than a year, Ukraine's forces have defended their country and their fellow citizens. But they have also defended the fundamental principle that autocrats cannot simply to attack their smaller neighbors. The prowess and prowess of the Ukrainian military has inspired the world," Austin said.

 In addition, he thanked each country that joined the meeting, which "showed that peoples of goodwill from all over the world reject Russia's cruelty and aggression."

 "Many of you have dipped deep into your own reserves to help Ukraine. Some of our allies, such as Estonia and Latvia, have donated more than 1% of their GDP to the cause of Ukraine. The European Union recently announced a major initiative to increase the industrial production of munitions, and thanks to the work of the national arms directors, many other countries are also increasing the production of ammunition, which Ukraine needs so much," the head of the Pentagon said.

 US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin informed that the members of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine have provided Ukraine with assistance in the field of security in the amount of more than 55 billion dollars.