Lloyd Austin, defense secretary, urges continuing support for Ukraine as winter approaches

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Wednesday urged other nations in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to increase the supply of air defense weapons for Kyiv as it prepares to face another winter of war against Russian invaders.

The virtual meeting, the 17th since the group was created after Moscow’s February 2022 invasion, was held soon after Mr. Austin made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

“Just days before my visit to Kyiv, [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s forces launched a new barrage of missile attacks at Kyiv and other parts of Ukraine to try to damage Ukraine’s energy grid,” Mr. Austin said. “Russian attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure could mean suffering and death for countless innocent Ukrainian citizens.”

The Contact Group has recently focused on strengthening Ukraine’s air force and information-technology capabilities and is expected to next address the country’s ground-based air defense needs, Mr. Austin said.

“I appreciate the leadership of Germany and France in organizing this important initiative. Last week, they held their first virtual coalition discussion,” he said. “We are marshaling resources from across this Contact Group to support these efforts.”

The former Soviet Union was a leading weapons provider to communist regimes and terror groups around the world during the Cold War, but Russia today has been forced to look for military support from North Korea and Iran. Mr. Austin said Ukraine and Israel both face relentless foes who are seeking their annihilation.

SEE ALSO: In surprise Kyiv stop, Austin offers Ukraine support, $100 million in military hardware

“It was chilling to see a delegation from Hamas — led by one of the terrorist group’s leaders — brazenly visit Moscow on October 26 to meet with senior Russian officials,” he said. “Iran is fueling conflict in both Gaza and Ukraine by arming Hamas and Putin. Iran’s support to the Kremlin and Hamas harms Ukraine, stability in the Middle East, and the rules-based international order.”

But he said the United States is fully capable of continuing its support for Ukraine even as it stands with Israel in its “hour of need.”

“I remain more confident than ever that the Ukrainian people will stay resilient in the face of hardships,” Mr. Austin said. “That’s because they are fighting for their homes, for their families, and for their very future.”

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