1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:02,460 a warm welcome to our Distinguished 2 00:00:02,460 --> 00:00:05,910 Ministers and Chiefs of Defense . Thank 3 00:00:05,910 --> 00:00:08,400 you for joining us virtually at today's 4 00:00:08,410 --> 00:00:11,660 second Ukraine Defense Contact Group . 5 00:00:12,140 --> 00:00:14,362 I'm Laura cooper , the Deputy Assistant 6 00:00:14,362 --> 00:00:16,251 Secretary of Defense for Russia . 7 00:00:16,251 --> 00:00:19,370 Ukraine Eurasia and I will serve as 8 00:00:19,370 --> 00:00:22,370 today's emcee for the contact group . 9 00:00:22,380 --> 00:00:25,010 We will begin with presentations by 10 00:00:25,020 --> 00:00:27,170 Ukrainian and U . S . Military 11 00:00:27,170 --> 00:00:29,114 leadership on the situation on the 12 00:00:29,114 --> 00:00:31,840 ground . Session one will begin with a 13 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:34,300 battlefield update on the current fight . 14 00:00:34,740 --> 00:00:37,180 How Ukraine is leveraging international 15 00:00:37,180 --> 00:00:39,920 donations and Ukraine's immediate 16 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:43,000 combat requirements . We will next turn 17 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,111 to participating ministers in session 18 00:00:45,111 --> 00:00:47,630 two who will announce progress made on 19 00:00:47,630 --> 00:00:50,120 donations Following donations , 20 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,231 announcements . We will focus session 21 00:00:52,231 --> 00:00:54,960 three on capabilities and coordination 22 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:57,231 with the review of how we are meeting 23 00:00:57,231 --> 00:00:59,780 Ukraine's priority requirements . An 24 00:00:59,790 --> 00:01:01,457 overview of the international 25 00:01:01,457 --> 00:01:04,160 deconfliction and coordination cell and 26 00:01:04,170 --> 00:01:07,180 updates by ministers . I would like to 27 00:01:07,180 --> 00:01:09,880 extend a very warm welcome to Ukraine's 28 00:01:09,880 --> 00:01:12,110 Minister of Defense , Alexey Reznikoff 29 00:01:12,140 --> 00:01:14,680 for joining us virtually today from 30 00:01:14,680 --> 00:01:17,220 Ukraine with his team . We appreciate 31 00:01:17,220 --> 00:01:19,331 your presence and are looking forward 32 00:01:19,331 --> 00:01:21,553 to hearing your thoughts here shortly . 33 00:01:21,553 --> 00:01:23,710 On an administrative note . Before we 34 00:01:23,710 --> 00:01:26,030 begin , I would like to note some best 35 00:01:26,030 --> 00:01:28,830 practices for our zoom call . Please 36 00:01:28,830 --> 00:01:31,850 mute yourself unless you are slated to 37 00:01:31,860 --> 00:01:35,100 present . That's a good Q . Please do 38 00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:37,880 mute yourself also please remember that 39 00:01:37,880 --> 00:01:39,840 this is a private zoom link and 40 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:42,870 recordings are not permitted . Please 41 00:01:42,870 --> 00:01:45,092 allow me now to introduce the Secretary 42 00:01:45,092 --> 00:01:47,320 of Defense Lloyd Austin to deliver 43 00:01:47,330 --> 00:01:49,460 opening remarks . Mr Secretary . 44 00:01:52,140 --> 00:01:54,029 Thanks laura in Austria . I think 45 00:01:54,029 --> 00:01:56,029 you're Mike's hot . So if you could 46 00:01:56,029 --> 00:01:59,230 please mute yourself , will you be 47 00:01:59,230 --> 00:02:01,760 better off Austria . 48 00:02:06,940 --> 00:02:10,710 Yes . Hello . Nice . Uh to hear your 49 00:02:10,720 --> 00:02:12,960 best wishes from Vienna . We are on 50 00:02:12,960 --> 00:02:16,810 that . Okay , thank you . 51 00:02:16,820 --> 00:02:18,931 Good morning everyone . It's great to 52 00:02:18,931 --> 00:02:21,042 see everyone here today and thank you 53 00:02:21,042 --> 00:02:22,931 all for joining us for the second 54 00:02:22,931 --> 00:02:26,160 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact 55 00:02:26,160 --> 00:02:29,010 Group . This gathering is virtual but 56 00:02:29,020 --> 00:02:31,187 our efforts together are making a very 57 00:02:31,187 --> 00:02:33,464 concrete difference on the battlefield . 58 00:02:34,140 --> 00:02:36,230 We're all here today because of the 59 00:02:36,230 --> 00:02:39,280 extraordinary valor and resilience of 60 00:02:39,280 --> 00:02:42,230 Ukraine soldiers and citizens . And for 61 00:02:42,230 --> 00:02:44,008 three months , Ukraine has been 62 00:02:44,008 --> 00:02:47,110 fighting with grit and tactical 63 00:02:47,120 --> 00:02:50,450 ingenuity against an entirely 64 00:02:50,460 --> 00:02:52,890 unprovoked invasion by its far larger 65 00:02:52,890 --> 00:02:54,910 neighbor . And we're here to help 66 00:02:54,910 --> 00:02:57,950 Ukraine for the long haul . Ukraine has 67 00:02:57,950 --> 00:03:00,720 already scored a historic victory in 68 00:03:00,720 --> 00:03:03,040 the battle of Keith . So Putin has 69 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,230 changed the focus of his war of choice 70 00:03:05,640 --> 00:03:07,990 to a renewed grant a land grab in the 71 00:03:07,990 --> 00:03:10,490 east and the south . But in this 72 00:03:10,490 --> 00:03:12,530 through phase , Ukraine is fighting 73 00:03:12,530 --> 00:03:14,860 just as hard and just as well . 74 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:18,100 Ukrainian armed forces are skillfully 75 00:03:18,100 --> 00:03:20,860 using systems both old and new . 76 00:03:21,330 --> 00:03:23,441 They've stalled Russia's offensive in 77 00:03:23,441 --> 00:03:26,170 the east and continue to seize the 78 00:03:26,170 --> 00:03:28,670 initiative . And throughout , Ukraine 79 00:03:28,670 --> 00:03:31,700 has shown the world the military and 80 00:03:31,700 --> 00:03:35,050 moral power of a free people coming 81 00:03:35,050 --> 00:03:37,272 together to defend their democracy from 82 00:03:37,272 --> 00:03:40,680 aggression and atrocities . So I'm 83 00:03:40,680 --> 00:03:42,830 especially honored that we are joined 84 00:03:42,840 --> 00:03:46,080 again by my dear friend , Ukrainian 85 00:03:46,080 --> 00:03:49,060 Minister of Defense . Olexiy Reznikoff . 86 00:03:49,640 --> 00:03:51,584 And let me also warmly welcome the 87 00:03:51,584 --> 00:03:53,751 deputy Commander in Chief of Ukraine's 88 00:03:53,751 --> 00:03:55,810 armed forces and I'm glad to have 89 00:03:55,810 --> 00:03:57,532 Ukraine's Defense Intelligence 90 00:03:57,532 --> 00:03:59,643 representative here with us as well . 91 00:04:00,300 --> 00:04:03,710 My friends , we've got your back all of 92 00:04:03,710 --> 00:04:06,660 us and President Zelensky and Ukraine's 93 00:04:06,660 --> 00:04:09,320 leaders have made history and your 94 00:04:09,320 --> 00:04:11,380 forces have inspired the free world 95 00:04:11,380 --> 00:04:14,990 with their courage and skill . Now , 96 00:04:14,990 --> 00:04:17,101 Minister Reznikoff and I have been in 97 00:04:17,101 --> 00:04:19,750 close and frequent touch about the 98 00:04:19,750 --> 00:04:21,960 evolving situation on the battlefield 99 00:04:22,640 --> 00:04:24,473 and we've been working intensely 100 00:04:24,473 --> 00:04:26,520 together to ensure that Ukraine has 101 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,060 what it needs to defend itself from 102 00:04:29,060 --> 00:04:32,400 Howard Sirs with ammunition to U A V . 103 00:04:32,400 --> 00:04:36,210 S and M I 17 helicopters . We've also 104 00:04:36,210 --> 00:04:38,432 provided counter artillery , radars and 105 00:04:38,432 --> 00:04:40,599 electronic jamming equipment and we're 106 00:04:40,599 --> 00:04:43,330 hoping to train Ukrainian forces on 107 00:04:43,330 --> 00:04:46,450 many new capabilities . I know that 108 00:04:46,450 --> 00:04:48,394 everyone here shares that sense of 109 00:04:48,394 --> 00:04:50,860 urgency . We all understand that 110 00:04:51,540 --> 00:04:54,140 Russian aggression poses the threat 111 00:04:54,140 --> 00:04:55,973 that Russian aggression poses to 112 00:04:55,973 --> 00:04:58,310 european security and to the rules 113 00:04:58,310 --> 00:05:00,532 based international order that keeps us 114 00:05:00,532 --> 00:05:03,520 all secure . Ukraine's cause has 115 00:05:03,520 --> 00:05:06,760 rallied the free world since Russia's 116 00:05:06,760 --> 00:05:10,700 invasion on 24 February , More than 40 117 00:05:10,700 --> 00:05:12,867 of our allies and partners from around 118 00:05:12,867 --> 00:05:14,922 the globe have stepped up to provide 119 00:05:14,922 --> 00:05:16,978 critical security assistance to help 120 00:05:16,978 --> 00:05:20,440 Ukraine defend itself . And today we're 121 00:05:20,440 --> 00:05:23,190 honored to have defense leaders from 44 122 00:05:23,190 --> 00:05:25,320 countries with us as well as 123 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:27,860 representatives from NATO and the EU . 124 00:05:28,640 --> 00:05:30,807 I'm especially pleased to have several 125 00:05:30,807 --> 00:05:32,696 new countries joining us for this 126 00:05:32,696 --> 00:05:34,918 morning for this meeting of the contact 127 00:05:34,918 --> 00:05:37,850 group , including Austria in Bosnia 128 00:05:37,850 --> 00:05:41,560 Herzegovina Colombia , Ireland 129 00:05:41,660 --> 00:05:44,990 and Kosovo . Now , I'm very encouraged 130 00:05:44,990 --> 00:05:46,768 by the progress that we've made 131 00:05:46,768 --> 00:05:49,340 together since we gathered in at 132 00:05:49,340 --> 00:05:52,030 Ramstein Air Base four weeks ago and 133 00:05:52,030 --> 00:05:54,640 let me highlight just a few outstanding 134 00:05:54,640 --> 00:05:58,570 efforts at Ramstein Australia and 135 00:05:58,570 --> 00:06:00,860 Canada committed to providing M . 136 00:06:00,860 --> 00:06:03,300 Triple seven Howitzers . And in just 137 00:06:03,300 --> 00:06:05,840 four weeks all those systems have been 138 00:06:05,840 --> 00:06:08,730 deliberate to the Ukrainians . The UK 139 00:06:08,730 --> 00:06:11,160 delivered brimstone missiles in a new 140 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:14,110 short range air defense system and many 141 00:06:14,110 --> 00:06:16,054 more countries have pushed hard to 142 00:06:16,054 --> 00:06:17,960 stand up important new training 143 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:19,930 missions . And we've watched these 144 00:06:19,930 --> 00:06:22,820 efforts make a real difference in real 145 00:06:22,820 --> 00:06:26,230 time . Now as Ukraine's fight 146 00:06:26,230 --> 00:06:29,660 continues , our efforts must intensify 147 00:06:29,660 --> 00:06:31,882 and we must all plan for the challenges 148 00:06:31,882 --> 00:06:34,810 ahead . The Ukrainian armed forces will 149 00:06:34,810 --> 00:06:37,510 need our sustained support . The United 150 00:06:37,510 --> 00:06:39,920 States is committed to standing with 151 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,142 Ukraine over the long term . And that's 152 00:06:42,142 --> 00:06:44,420 why President Biden recently signed a 153 00:06:44,420 --> 00:06:47,260 $40 billion dollar funding bill to help 154 00:06:47,260 --> 00:06:49,610 Ukraine the additional defense 155 00:06:49,610 --> 00:06:52,330 resources in the bill will help us to 156 00:06:52,340 --> 00:06:54,770 send Ukraine even more artillery and 157 00:06:54,780 --> 00:06:57,950 armored vehicles and ammunition . Since 158 00:06:57,950 --> 00:06:59,672 the start of President Biden's 159 00:06:59,672 --> 00:07:01,894 administration , we have committed some 160 00:07:01,894 --> 00:07:02,810 $4.6 billion 161 00:07:02,810 --> 00:07:07,500 $3.9 162 00:07:07,500 --> 00:07:11,090 billion Unjust invasion 163 00:07:11,090 --> 00:07:13,750 began And President Biden announced 164 00:07:13,750 --> 00:07:16,040 last Thursday that he has authorized 165 00:07:16,050 --> 00:07:18,120 another presidential drawdown of 166 00:07:18,120 --> 00:07:20,700 security assistance for Ukraine valued 167 00:07:20,700 --> 00:07:24,460 up to an additional $100 million . 168 00:07:25,040 --> 00:07:27,207 And that will help ensure that U . S . 169 00:07:27,207 --> 00:07:29,429 Assistance to Ukraine continues to flow 170 00:07:29,540 --> 00:07:31,950 without interruption . The late this 171 00:07:31,950 --> 00:07:35,680 latest package will help Ukraine meet 172 00:07:35,680 --> 00:07:37,860 critical needs for for today's fight 173 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,350 including 18 more howitzers , 18 174 00:07:41,350 --> 00:07:44,050 tactical vehicles to tow them . Connor 175 00:07:44,050 --> 00:07:46,880 artillery radars , field equipment and 176 00:07:46,890 --> 00:07:50,060 urgently needed spare parts . So the 177 00:07:50,060 --> 00:07:52,171 United States will continue to do our 178 00:07:52,171 --> 00:07:53,893 part . And I would welcome the 179 00:07:53,893 --> 00:07:56,004 opportunity to hear from you today on 180 00:07:56,004 --> 00:07:58,171 your current contributions of security 181 00:07:58,171 --> 00:08:00,460 assistance and pledges to do even more . 182 00:08:01,340 --> 00:08:03,396 And ladies and gentlemen , we have a 183 00:08:03,396 --> 00:08:06,190 lot to do together and that's just how 184 00:08:06,190 --> 00:08:09,830 we will move forward together . So 185 00:08:09,830 --> 00:08:12,150 here's the here's our agenda today . As 186 00:08:12,160 --> 00:08:14,550 as you've heard , Secretary cooper 187 00:08:14,560 --> 00:08:17,080 mentioned earlier , we'll sharpen our 188 00:08:17,080 --> 00:08:18,858 collective understanding of our 189 00:08:18,858 --> 00:08:20,580 battlefield of the battlefield 190 00:08:20,580 --> 00:08:22,469 conditions and Ukraine's priority 191 00:08:22,469 --> 00:08:24,940 requirements will increase transparency 192 00:08:24,940 --> 00:08:27,090 and coordination in all directions by 193 00:08:27,180 --> 00:08:29,670 sharing information on Ukraine's needs 194 00:08:29,670 --> 00:08:32,200 and your donations will deepen 195 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:34,367 accountability for security assistance 196 00:08:34,367 --> 00:08:36,870 provided to Ukraine and we'll discuss 197 00:08:36,870 --> 00:08:39,070 how we can strengthen and modernize 198 00:08:39,350 --> 00:08:41,517 Ukraine the Ukrainian armed forces for 199 00:08:41,517 --> 00:08:43,980 the long haul to help ensure that they 200 00:08:43,980 --> 00:08:47,270 can deter aggression in the future . I 201 00:08:47,270 --> 00:08:49,048 look forward to doing even more 202 00:08:49,048 --> 00:08:51,214 together to help Ukraine defend itself 203 00:08:51,214 --> 00:08:53,970 and to reinforce an international order 204 00:08:54,250 --> 00:08:57,160 rooted in the rule of law and thank you 205 00:08:57,160 --> 00:08:59,590 for all that you're doing . I'm honored 206 00:08:59,590 --> 00:09:01,701 to be here with all of you and I look 207 00:09:01,701 --> 00:09:03,923 forward to getting real results at this 208 00:09:03,923 --> 00:09:06,130 moment of crisis again . Thanks to 209 00:09:06,130 --> 00:09:08,530 everyone and we'll pause just a minute 210 00:09:08,540 --> 00:09:11,060 while we allow the media to exit