1 00:00:00,289 --> 00:00:02,819 Mr Secretary , if you can hear us , we 2 00:00:02,829 --> 00:00:04,885 will , I will turn it over to Doctor 3 00:00:04,885 --> 00:00:07,570 Wallander to begin . Ok . Go ahead 4 00:00:07,670 --> 00:00:11,239 check Terry Walder . Good morning , sir . 5 00:00:11,640 --> 00:00:14,279 Uh and go good afternoon to all the 6 00:00:14,289 --> 00:00:17,899 assembled uh um delegations . And so 7 00:00:17,909 --> 00:00:20,020 first let me extend a warm welcome to 8 00:00:20,020 --> 00:00:22,187 our distinguished ministers and Chiefs 9 00:00:22,187 --> 00:00:24,242 of Defense . Thank you for convening 10 00:00:24,242 --> 00:00:26,479 for today's 19th meeting of the Ukraine 11 00:00:26,489 --> 00:00:29,100 Defense Contact group . I'm Celeste 12 00:00:29,110 --> 00:00:31,540 Walder , Assistant Secretary of Defense 13 00:00:31,549 --> 00:00:33,849 and I will serve as facilitator for 14 00:00:33,860 --> 00:00:36,450 today's contact group . Um I would like 15 00:00:36,459 --> 00:00:39,680 to welcome Minister Umarov , we as 16 00:00:39,689 --> 00:00:41,856 always value your presence here at the 17 00:00:41,856 --> 00:00:44,040 U DC G and are looking forward to 18 00:00:44,049 --> 00:00:46,689 hearing from you today . So with that , 19 00:00:46,700 --> 00:00:48,700 let me first introduce Secretary of 20 00:00:48,700 --> 00:00:51,459 Defense Lloyd Austin to deliver uh his 21 00:00:51,470 --> 00:00:53,729 introductory remarks , Mr Secretary 22 00:00:53,740 --> 00:00:56,000 over to you . Thanks , Celeste . Uh 23 00:00:56,009 --> 00:00:58,176 Good afternoon , everyone . It's great 24 00:00:58,176 --> 00:01:00,389 to see you all again . And I'm sorry , 25 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:02,289 I wouldn't be uh I wasn't able to 26 00:01:02,289 --> 00:01:04,699 travel to Brussels this week . I look 27 00:01:04,709 --> 00:01:06,876 forward to bringing this contact group 28 00:01:06,876 --> 00:01:10,239 together uh in person . Uh Soon I plan 29 00:01:10,250 --> 00:01:12,306 to be in person uh with you today in 30 00:01:12,306 --> 00:01:14,417 Brussels , but I had to return to the 31 00:01:14,417 --> 00:01:16,528 hospital for nonsurgical procedures . 32 00:01:16,528 --> 00:01:18,528 I'm in good condition and my cancer 33 00:01:18,528 --> 00:01:20,528 prognosis remains excellent and I'm 34 00:01:20,528 --> 00:01:22,861 really grateful for all the well wishes . 35 00:01:23,800 --> 00:01:26,720 Uh Thanks for working across time zones 36 00:01:26,730 --> 00:01:29,300 to join us for the 19th meeting of this 37 00:01:29,309 --> 00:01:32,129 contact group . As always , I'm glad 38 00:01:32,139 --> 00:01:34,361 that uh we're joined by a distinguished 39 00:01:34,361 --> 00:01:36,195 delegation from Ukraine , led by 40 00:01:36,195 --> 00:01:38,361 Minister Umarov Rustum . It's great to 41 00:01:38,361 --> 00:01:40,739 have you with us again in a move that 42 00:01:40,750 --> 00:01:42,972 so many allies and partners from around 43 00:01:42,972 --> 00:01:45,139 the globe are with us today . That's a 44 00:01:45,139 --> 00:01:47,250 testament to this coalition's resolve 45 00:01:47,250 --> 00:01:49,470 and unity and we won't back down . 46 00:01:50,330 --> 00:01:52,663 Ladies and gentlemen , later this month , 47 00:01:52,663 --> 00:01:54,774 we will mark two full years since the 48 00:01:54,774 --> 00:01:56,886 start of Russia's full scale invasion 49 00:01:56,886 --> 00:01:59,219 of its peaceful and democratic neighbor , 50 00:01:59,219 --> 00:02:01,900 Ukraine . When Putin launched his 51 00:02:01,910 --> 00:02:05,300 unjust and unp unprovoked war of choice , 52 00:02:05,739 --> 00:02:08,059 he was betting that Ukraine would fold 53 00:02:09,380 --> 00:02:11,547 but he couldn't have been more wrong . 54 00:02:11,547 --> 00:02:13,602 Ukraine fought Putin's invasion with 55 00:02:13,602 --> 00:02:15,824 incredible courage and phenomenal skill 56 00:02:15,889 --> 00:02:17,833 and nations of goodwill around the 57 00:02:17,833 --> 00:02:20,149 world rally to Ukraine's cause the 58 00:02:20,160 --> 00:02:22,330 countries of this contact group almost 59 00:02:22,339 --> 00:02:24,660 two years later are still united in 60 00:02:24,669 --> 00:02:27,199 common purpose . The Kremlin keeps on 61 00:02:27,210 --> 00:02:29,377 betting that we will all lose interest 62 00:02:29,377 --> 00:02:31,559 in Ukraine and that our support will 63 00:02:31,570 --> 00:02:34,389 flicker and fade but I am more 64 00:02:34,399 --> 00:02:36,820 determined than ever and I know that 65 00:02:36,830 --> 00:02:39,470 you are as well . This contact group 66 00:02:39,479 --> 00:02:42,369 remains resolute , undaunted and firm 67 00:02:42,899 --> 00:02:45,470 and make no mistake . United State , 68 00:02:45,729 --> 00:02:47,750 United States continues to stay in 69 00:02:47,759 --> 00:02:50,830 force where with Ukraine and America 70 00:02:50,839 --> 00:02:52,783 will continue to support Ukraine's 71 00:02:52,783 --> 00:02:54,561 principal fight against Putin's 72 00:02:54,561 --> 00:02:57,009 imperial aggression . The Kremlin is 73 00:02:57,020 --> 00:02:59,220 sinking deeper into its self inflicted 74 00:02:59,229 --> 00:03:02,009 isolation . But this coalition of some 75 00:03:02,020 --> 00:03:04,220 50 countries worldwide is here to roll 76 00:03:04,229 --> 00:03:07,119 up our sleeves and get to work and our 77 00:03:07,130 --> 00:03:08,908 allies and partners continue to 78 00:03:08,908 --> 00:03:10,797 shoulder the burden of our shared 79 00:03:10,797 --> 00:03:13,600 security . Almost two years in , we 80 00:03:13,610 --> 00:03:15,832 continue to send security assistance to 81 00:03:15,832 --> 00:03:18,309 the battlefield and we are now building 82 00:03:18,320 --> 00:03:20,979 coalitions for UK Ukraine's long term 83 00:03:20,990 --> 00:03:23,960 security . We remain focused on 84 00:03:23,970 --> 00:03:26,137 accountability for the assistance that 85 00:03:26,137 --> 00:03:28,669 we're providing to Ukraine . We'll work 86 00:03:28,679 --> 00:03:30,790 together today on Ukraine's near term 87 00:03:30,790 --> 00:03:32,970 requirements , including its urgent 88 00:03:32,979 --> 00:03:35,830 need for more artillery ammunition and 89 00:03:35,839 --> 00:03:38,350 air defense missiles and what we're 90 00:03:38,360 --> 00:03:40,582 calling the capability . Coalitions are 91 00:03:40,582 --> 00:03:42,800 standing up and moving out . They're 92 00:03:42,809 --> 00:03:44,976 helping to build the foundations for a 93 00:03:44,976 --> 00:03:47,220 Ukrainian future force that will deter 94 00:03:47,229 --> 00:03:49,860 and defend against continued Russian 95 00:03:49,869 --> 00:03:52,289 aggression and we will continue to 96 00:03:52,300 --> 00:03:54,522 adapt to our support to Ukraine's short 97 00:03:54,522 --> 00:03:56,360 term and long term security 98 00:03:56,369 --> 00:03:59,149 requirements . So let me thank everyone 99 00:03:59,160 --> 00:04:00,827 who is leading the capability 100 00:04:00,827 --> 00:04:03,520 coalitions . You are tackling truly 101 00:04:03,529 --> 00:04:06,759 crucial task . That means building up 102 00:04:06,770 --> 00:04:09,100 Ukraine's future artillery force and 103 00:04:09,110 --> 00:04:11,221 supplying it with enough ammunition . 104 00:04:11,389 --> 00:04:14,669 It means equipping Ukraine with F-16s 105 00:04:14,679 --> 00:04:16,679 and the infrastructure to keep them 106 00:04:16,679 --> 00:04:18,928 flying . And it means ensuring that 107 00:04:19,148 --> 00:04:21,259 Ukraine has an integrated and layered 108 00:04:21,259 --> 00:04:23,204 air defense network to protect its 109 00:04:23,204 --> 00:04:27,160 civilians , cities and skies . We'll 110 00:04:27,170 --> 00:04:29,337 keep using the nimble framework of the 111 00:04:29,337 --> 00:04:31,170 capability coalition to adapt to 112 00:04:31,170 --> 00:04:32,726 Ukraine's evolving security 113 00:04:32,726 --> 00:04:34,837 requirements each of these coalitions 114 00:04:34,837 --> 00:04:37,459 underscores our unity and resolve to 115 00:04:37,470 --> 00:04:39,820 help Ukraine and to confront Russian 116 00:04:39,829 --> 00:04:42,100 aggression . We'll continue to work 117 00:04:42,109 --> 00:04:44,230 together to get Ukraine what it needs 118 00:04:44,399 --> 00:04:47,130 to hold on to its games and to keep 119 00:04:47,140 --> 00:04:49,809 pushing back . Uh Russia's illegal 120 00:04:49,820 --> 00:04:53,070 occupation in the months ahead . The 121 00:04:53,079 --> 00:04:55,429 Kremlin's cruelty is especially clear 122 00:04:55,440 --> 00:04:58,480 during another winter of war , Putin's 123 00:04:58,489 --> 00:05:01,420 forces brazenly bombard Ukraine's uh 124 00:05:01,429 --> 00:05:03,799 cities with ballistic missiles and 125 00:05:03,809 --> 00:05:07,540 Iranian drones . But Ukraine continues 126 00:05:07,549 --> 00:05:10,079 to defy the Kremlin and fight for its 127 00:05:10,089 --> 00:05:12,440 sovereign rights . And we will continue 128 00:05:12,450 --> 00:05:14,450 to dig deep to provide Ukraine with 129 00:05:14,450 --> 00:05:17,769 both short term and and uh and long 130 00:05:17,779 --> 00:05:20,410 term support . The countries of this 131 00:05:20,420 --> 00:05:22,531 coalition include the United States , 132 00:05:22,779 --> 00:05:25,100 including the United States support 133 00:05:25,109 --> 00:05:27,331 Ukraine because it's the right thing to 134 00:05:27,331 --> 00:05:29,165 do and because it is in our core 135 00:05:29,165 --> 00:05:32,029 national security interest , Putin's 136 00:05:32,040 --> 00:05:34,600 indefensible war of aggression poses a 137 00:05:34,609 --> 00:05:36,498 massive challenge to security and 138 00:05:36,498 --> 00:05:39,059 stability in Europe and beyond . And 139 00:05:39,070 --> 00:05:41,070 the Kremlin's invasion is a frontal 140 00:05:41,070 --> 00:05:43,579 assault on the hard won post World War 141 00:05:43,589 --> 00:05:46,269 Two international order that condemns 142 00:05:46,279 --> 00:05:49,019 aggression , defend state sovereignty 143 00:05:49,179 --> 00:05:51,489 and upholds human rights . So the 144 00:05:51,500 --> 00:05:53,444 outcome of Ukraine's fight against 145 00:05:53,444 --> 00:05:55,556 Putin's imperial aggression will help 146 00:05:55,556 --> 00:05:59,000 define global security for decades and 147 00:05:59,010 --> 00:06:02,149 for people of principle and governments 148 00:06:02,160 --> 00:06:04,630 of conscience standing aside while 149 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:07,079 Ukraine fights for its very existence 150 00:06:07,220 --> 00:06:09,899 is not an option . Ukraine will not 151 00:06:09,910 --> 00:06:13,220 surrender and neither will we . And 152 00:06:13,230 --> 00:06:15,579 with that , we'll pause for a moment as 153 00:06:15,589 --> 00:06:17,929 our friends in the media depart and 154 00:06:17,940 --> 00:06:19,700 then start our agenda . Thank you .