Attributed to Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone today with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov to discuss ongoing U.S. security assistance for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, as well as plans for the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting that will again bring together some 50 countries supporting Ukraine. Secretary Austin and Minister Umerov also discussed recent developments on the ground in Ukraine.
The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact.