1 00:00:00,019 --> 00:00:02,099 Chief of Defense . Thank you for 2 00:00:02,109 --> 00:00:04,539 joining us today for today's 12th 3 00:00:04,550 --> 00:00:06,920 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact 4 00:00:06,929 --> 00:00:08,707 Group . I'm Celeste Wallinger , 5 00:00:08,707 --> 00:00:10,651 Assistant Secretary of Defense for 6 00:00:10,651 --> 00:00:12,873 International Security Affairs and I'll 7 00:00:12,873 --> 00:00:14,707 serve as facilitator for today's 8 00:00:14,707 --> 00:00:17,299 contact group . I would like to thank 9 00:00:17,309 --> 00:00:19,476 Ukraine's Minister of Defense , Alexei 10 00:00:19,476 --> 00:00:22,360 Reznikoff for joining us again today . 11 00:00:22,370 --> 00:00:24,259 We value your presence and we are 12 00:00:24,259 --> 00:00:26,037 looking forward to hearing your 13 00:00:26,037 --> 00:00:28,259 thoughts here shortly . Um Please allow 14 00:00:28,259 --> 00:00:30,092 me now to introduce Secretary of 15 00:00:30,100 --> 00:00:32,700 Defense Lloyd Austin to deliver opening 16 00:00:32,709 --> 00:00:34,150 remarks . Mr Secretary . 17 00:00:37,040 --> 00:00:39,630 Thanks uh secretary uh hello , everyone 18 00:00:39,639 --> 00:00:41,639 and thanks for joining us virtually 19 00:00:41,639 --> 00:00:44,540 from time zones around the world 20 00:00:45,840 --> 00:00:48,007 and welcome to the 12th meeting of the 21 00:00:48,007 --> 00:00:50,062 Ukraine defense contact group . It's 22 00:00:50,062 --> 00:00:52,389 great to see everyone again . And as 23 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,979 Ukraine advances its fight against 24 00:00:54,990 --> 00:00:57,759 Russian invaders , the members of this 25 00:00:57,770 --> 00:01:00,900 contact group stand united . Since this 26 00:01:00,909 --> 00:01:03,409 group met last month , the United 27 00:01:03,419 --> 00:01:06,300 States has committed an additional 28 00:01:06,379 --> 00:01:09,449 $1.8 billion in security assistance to 29 00:01:09,459 --> 00:01:12,589 Ukraine that includes a recent package 30 00:01:12,599 --> 00:01:16,449 of $375 million with equipment such 31 00:01:16,459 --> 00:01:20,120 as I MARS , ammunition , anti 32 00:01:20,150 --> 00:01:23,739 tank systems and laser guided rockets . 33 00:01:24,660 --> 00:01:26,480 We're also providing key combat 34 00:01:26,489 --> 00:01:29,230 enablers such as heavy equipment , 35 00:01:29,239 --> 00:01:32,389 transport and armored bridging systems . 36 00:01:33,730 --> 00:01:36,839 And in our latest Ukraine security 37 00:01:36,849 --> 00:01:39,190 assistance initiative package , the 38 00:01:39,199 --> 00:01:41,889 United States funded additional air 39 00:01:41,900 --> 00:01:44,819 defense systems and munitions . That 40 00:01:44,830 --> 00:01:46,980 package also includes equipment that 41 00:01:46,989 --> 00:01:50,000 will integrate Ukraine's legacy air 42 00:01:50,010 --> 00:01:52,510 defense systems with air defense 43 00:01:52,519 --> 00:01:56,110 launchers , missiles and radars 44 00:01:56,180 --> 00:01:58,309 from members of this contact group . 45 00:01:59,629 --> 00:02:02,440 We're also providing more 155 46 00:02:02,449 --> 00:02:05,150 millimeter artillery rounds as well as 47 00:02:05,160 --> 00:02:07,190 more training , maintenance and 48 00:02:07,199 --> 00:02:09,779 sustainment . We're focused on 49 00:02:09,789 --> 00:02:12,270 contributions that make a real 50 00:02:12,279 --> 00:02:14,500 difference difference in real time . 51 00:02:16,279 --> 00:02:18,057 Yet , the United States is also 52 00:02:18,057 --> 00:02:20,223 committed to standing with Ukraine for 53 00:02:20,223 --> 00:02:23,330 the long haul and so are the countries 54 00:02:23,339 --> 00:02:26,160 that have gathered here today . We've 55 00:02:26,169 --> 00:02:28,225 been working in lockstep with all of 56 00:02:28,225 --> 00:02:30,225 you to get Ukraine's defenders what 57 00:02:30,225 --> 00:02:33,330 they need when they need it . Several 58 00:02:33,339 --> 00:02:35,117 contact group members have made 59 00:02:35,117 --> 00:02:37,172 important announcements . Recently , 60 00:02:38,000 --> 00:02:40,222 Germany pledged to provide Ukraine with 61 00:02:40,222 --> 00:02:42,167 more electric tanks , ammunition , 62 00:02:42,539 --> 00:02:45,970 combat drones and more in a package 63 00:02:46,039 --> 00:02:49,759 worth nearly $3 billion and that 64 00:02:49,770 --> 00:02:51,603 reflects Germany's drive to meet 65 00:02:51,603 --> 00:02:54,179 Ukraine's near near term needs and 66 00:02:54,190 --> 00:02:56,468 Germany's investment for the long haul . 67 00:02:57,589 --> 00:03:00,089 Denmark also announced a significant 68 00:03:00,100 --> 00:03:02,960 new package . It includes air defense 69 00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:05,089 support and combat enablers such as 70 00:03:05,100 --> 00:03:07,869 mine clearing ve vehicles , mobile 71 00:03:07,880 --> 00:03:11,190 field bridges and recovery vehicles . 72 00:03:12,500 --> 00:03:14,889 France also has committed more light 73 00:03:14,899 --> 00:03:18,710 tanks and armored vehicles . All of 74 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:21,179 these donations respond to Ukraine's 75 00:03:21,190 --> 00:03:24,029 top priority requirements and reflect 76 00:03:24,039 --> 00:03:26,150 the sustained resolve of this contact 77 00:03:26,160 --> 00:03:29,610 group together . Contact group members 78 00:03:29,619 --> 00:03:32,110 have ensured that Ukrainian soldiers 79 00:03:32,529 --> 00:03:34,473 have the training that they need . 80 00:03:34,929 --> 00:03:37,889 We've trained nine motorized and 81 00:03:37,899 --> 00:03:40,190 mechanized brigades and continue to 82 00:03:40,199 --> 00:03:42,869 execute collective training for 83 00:03:42,880 --> 00:03:46,559 Ukrainian combat units . Earlier this 84 00:03:46,570 --> 00:03:50,320 month , 31 M one Abrams training tanks 85 00:03:50,330 --> 00:03:52,219 from the United States arrived at 86 00:03:52,219 --> 00:03:56,190 Graphene uh in Germany . And last week , 87 00:03:56,199 --> 00:03:58,143 President Biden announced that the 88 00:03:58,143 --> 00:04:00,088 United States will support a joint 89 00:04:00,088 --> 00:04:02,255 effort with our allies and partners to 90 00:04:02,255 --> 00:04:04,399 train Ukrainian pilots on fourth 91 00:04:04,410 --> 00:04:07,080 generation aircraft including F-16s . 92 00:04:08,630 --> 00:04:10,852 Now we hope this training will begin in 93 00:04:10,852 --> 00:04:13,160 the coming weeks . This will further 94 00:04:13,169 --> 00:04:15,391 strengthen and improve the capabilities 95 00:04:15,391 --> 00:04:17,709 of the Ukrainian Air Force in the long 96 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:20,890 term and it will complement our short 97 00:04:20,899 --> 00:04:22,843 term and medium term , medium term 98 00:04:22,843 --> 00:04:26,630 security agreements . This 99 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:28,529 new joint effort sends a powerful 100 00:04:28,529 --> 00:04:30,829 message about our unity in our long 101 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:32,739 term commitment to Ukraine's self 102 00:04:32,750 --> 00:04:36,500 defense . And it again shows our shared 103 00:04:36,510 --> 00:04:39,510 determination to ensure that a 104 00:04:39,519 --> 00:04:42,339 sovereign and secure Ukraine can deter 105 00:04:42,480 --> 00:04:45,320 any future aggression and defend itself 106 00:04:45,329 --> 00:04:48,779 against future attacks . You can see 107 00:04:48,790 --> 00:04:51,012 that commitment in our work on the most 108 00:04:51,012 --> 00:04:53,179 important capability that this contact 109 00:04:53,179 --> 00:04:55,679 group is now providing ground based air 110 00:04:55,690 --> 00:04:59,019 defense systems , those crucial systems 111 00:04:59,029 --> 00:05:01,149 are protecting Ukraine's skies and 112 00:05:01,160 --> 00:05:03,380 civilian infrastructure from Russia's 113 00:05:03,390 --> 00:05:06,809 assault and we continue to deliver much 114 00:05:06,820 --> 00:05:10,070 needed ammunition in total . The 115 00:05:10,079 --> 00:05:13,209 contact group has committed nearly $65 116 00:05:13,220 --> 00:05:16,649 billion in security assistance . Now , 117 00:05:16,899 --> 00:05:19,679 Putin was hoping that our resolve would 118 00:05:19,690 --> 00:05:22,579 fade and he was betting that our unity 119 00:05:22,589 --> 00:05:26,320 would crack instead we remain as united 120 00:05:26,329 --> 00:05:29,799 as ever and the whole 121 00:05:29,809 --> 00:05:32,660 world can see it . Now , everyone here 122 00:05:32,670 --> 00:05:35,570 knows that what the Ukrainians are up 123 00:05:35,579 --> 00:05:38,359 against Russia has renewed its shocking 124 00:05:38,369 --> 00:05:40,679 and shameful barrage of missile attacks 125 00:05:40,690 --> 00:05:42,720 that threaten innocent Ukrainian 126 00:05:42,730 --> 00:05:44,952 civilians including hypersonic missiles 127 00:05:44,952 --> 00:05:47,690 aimed at Kiev . But this contact group 128 00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:49,811 continues to strengthen Ukraine's air 129 00:05:49,811 --> 00:05:51,880 defenses and save innocent lives . 130 00:05:52,839 --> 00:05:54,839 Ukrainians now have the Patriot air 131 00:05:54,839 --> 00:05:57,309 defense system on their side provided 132 00:05:57,320 --> 00:05:59,487 by the United States , Germany and the 133 00:05:59,487 --> 00:06:01,600 Netherlands and Ukraine has been 134 00:06:01,609 --> 00:06:03,760 shooting down Russian missiles with 135 00:06:03,769 --> 00:06:07,519 precision and skill . The patriot saves 136 00:06:07,529 --> 00:06:11,130 lives and so do air defense systems 137 00:06:11,329 --> 00:06:15,320 like I T and that this group has also 138 00:06:15,329 --> 00:06:18,250 delivered . We've helped Ukraine defend 139 00:06:18,260 --> 00:06:21,630 its skies and we won't let up . Russia 140 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:24,820 has failed to dominate Ukrainian 141 00:06:24,829 --> 00:06:27,589 airspace and that's why air defense 142 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,544 capabilities will again be a major 143 00:06:29,544 --> 00:06:32,329 focus of our discussions today . Now 144 00:06:32,339 --> 00:06:34,395 let me take just a moment to preview 145 00:06:34,395 --> 00:06:36,779 more of today's agenda . As always , 146 00:06:36,790 --> 00:06:39,480 we're joined by uh our good friend 147 00:06:39,540 --> 00:06:42,670 Alexi Reznikoff and his team and Alexi , 148 00:06:43,029 --> 00:06:45,196 thanks for taking the time to brief us 149 00:06:45,196 --> 00:06:47,196 on Ukraine's priority needs for the 150 00:06:47,196 --> 00:06:50,059 fight ahead . Then the commanders of us 151 00:06:50,070 --> 00:06:52,779 European Command and security 152 00:06:52,790 --> 00:06:54,901 Assistance Group . Ukraine will brief 153 00:06:54,901 --> 00:06:57,250 us on Ukraine's near near term 154 00:06:57,260 --> 00:06:59,950 requirements and we will discuss ways 155 00:06:59,959 --> 00:07:01,989 to further accelerate industrial 156 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:03,889 production for critical systems . 157 00:07:06,269 --> 00:07:08,540 We're gonna have to dig deeper and 158 00:07:08,549 --> 00:07:10,771 we're going to have to continue to look 159 00:07:10,771 --> 00:07:12,493 for creative ways to boost our 160 00:07:12,493 --> 00:07:14,970 industrial capability . The stakes are 161 00:07:14,980 --> 00:07:17,250 high , but the cause is just and our 162 00:07:17,260 --> 00:07:19,820 will is strong and we will continue to 163 00:07:19,829 --> 00:07:21,996 stand up for Ukraine's sovereign right 164 00:07:21,996 --> 00:07:24,107 to live in freedom , will continue to 165 00:07:24,109 --> 00:07:26,350 stand up for an open world of rules and 166 00:07:26,359 --> 00:07:29,410 rights . And we'll stand up for a free 167 00:07:29,420 --> 00:07:31,910 and sovereign Ukraine for as long as it 168 00:07:31,920 --> 00:07:34,320 takes . And with that , I'll pause for 169 00:07:34,329 --> 00:07:37,000 a moment and allow our friends in the 170 00:07:37,010 --> 00:07:38,029 media to depart .