Sweden and France signed agreements on defense procurement with Ukraine
19 July, 2023 Defense aid from Sweden for Ukraine. Photo credits: Ministry of Defense of Sweden The U.S.
Secretary of Defense summarized the results of the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format. Lloyd Austin reported that Ukraine's partners will do everything possible to support its sovereign right to live freely today and in the future. During the meeting, the allies discussed Ukraine's current needs, including the urgent need for ammunition.
Plans to increase production both at the national and multinational levels were also discussed at the meeting. He added that the participants heard information from the co-leaders of the F-16 fighter jet training coalition, Denmark and the Netherlands.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley. Photo credits: Reuters
They continue to work on an agreed training plan and help Ukrainian pilots who want to learn to fly 4th generation aircraft.
"Sweden and France have signed bilateral agreements with Ukraine on defense procurement and more, which will help Ukraine get even more modern systems and will contribute to deepening cooperation in the future," Lloyd Austin added. According to him, these two agreements demonstrate a long-term focus on building up Ukraine's forces. "Putin thought he could capture Kyiv in a few days and impose a new government of Russian puppets on the Ukrainian people.
But Ukraine decided to fight back. The Armed Forces of Ukraine courageously and skillfully defended their country. Secondly, the Kremlin made a bet that the world would simply put up with its brutal attack on Ukraine," the Secretary of Defense said about Russia's miscalculations.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley.
A frame from the Pentagon video
According to Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine, the 14th meeting in the Ramstein format demonstrated the partners' unwavering support for Ukraine. "Rammstein-14 has demonstrated our partners' unwavering support for Ukraine. The priority is the supply of weapons and equipment urgently required for the liberation of Ukrainian territory.
The focus is air defense, ammunition, and armored vehicles.
New initiatives!" Oleksii Reznikov's statement reads.
As previously reported, Sweden will set up service centers for military equipment transferred to Ukraine.