1 00:00:00,569 --> 00:00:01,569 Yes , 2 00:00:11,119 --> 00:00:14,390 it's well , good morning , everyone . 3 00:00:14,399 --> 00:00:16,288 It's great to see you all again . 4 00:00:16,288 --> 00:00:18,309 Thanks for joining us for the 23rd 5 00:00:18,319 --> 00:00:20,486 meeting of the Ukraine defense Contact 6 00:00:20,486 --> 00:00:22,430 group . I'm glad that we're joined 7 00:00:22,430 --> 00:00:24,719 again by our partners from Ukraine . Mr 8 00:00:24,780 --> 00:00:26,947 Umarov and your teammates . Thanks for 9 00:00:26,947 --> 00:00:29,329 being here as we gather this morning , 10 00:00:29,340 --> 00:00:31,479 Ukraine's forces are in a tough fight 11 00:00:32,208 --> 00:00:34,375 in Kharkiv and elsewhere . The Kremlin 12 00:00:34,375 --> 00:00:37,778 continues to intensify its bombardment 13 00:00:38,069 --> 00:00:41,540 of Ukraine's cities and civilians and 14 00:00:41,549 --> 00:00:43,771 Ukraine urgently needs more air defense 15 00:00:43,771 --> 00:00:46,409 capabilities to defend its skies . But 16 00:00:46,419 --> 00:00:49,470 the Ukrainian people remain resilient 17 00:00:49,479 --> 00:00:52,330 and unbowed and Ukraine's forces 18 00:00:52,340 --> 00:00:54,290 continue to impress the world with 19 00:00:54,299 --> 00:00:58,119 their skill and their grip . Ukrainian 20 00:00:58,130 --> 00:01:00,130 forces are fending off Russia's new 21 00:01:00,130 --> 00:01:02,630 offensive in the Kharkiv region and 22 00:01:02,639 --> 00:01:05,940 holding strong on the front lines in 23 00:01:05,949 --> 00:01:09,819 Ukraine's East and South . It has 24 00:01:09,830 --> 00:01:13,290 been 840 days since Putin launched his 25 00:01:13,300 --> 00:01:16,339 full scale invasion of Ukraine and 26 00:01:16,349 --> 00:01:18,293 Ukraine's defenders have inflicted 27 00:01:18,293 --> 00:01:20,650 staggering losses on the Russian 28 00:01:20,660 --> 00:01:24,120 invader on the Russian invaders since 29 00:01:24,129 --> 00:01:26,790 Putin's full-scale invasion in February 30 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:29,290 2022 at least 31 00:01:29,300 --> 00:01:32,980 350,000 Russian troops have been killed 32 00:01:32,989 --> 00:01:36,830 or wounded . Ukrainian forces have sunk , 33 00:01:37,000 --> 00:01:40,620 destroyed or damaged 24 Russian 34 00:01:40,629 --> 00:01:44,410 vessels in the Black Sea since 35 00:01:44,419 --> 00:01:47,430 September of last year , just before 36 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:49,773 the Kremlin began its renewed offensive . 37 00:01:50,500 --> 00:01:54,239 Russia has lost more than 2600 38 00:01:54,250 --> 00:01:56,839 combat vehicles across the front lines 39 00:01:56,849 --> 00:02:00,440 in Ukraine as Russian 40 00:02:00,449 --> 00:02:02,930 invaders move forward west of Avdiivka , 41 00:02:04,019 --> 00:02:06,870 they lost more than 160 combat vehicles 42 00:02:06,879 --> 00:02:10,309 there in May alone . So that's just 43 00:02:10,320 --> 00:02:12,264 another reminder of the price that 44 00:02:12,264 --> 00:02:15,619 Russia has paid for Putin's imperial 45 00:02:15,630 --> 00:02:18,850 ambitions . And it's another reminder 46 00:02:18,860 --> 00:02:22,759 of Ukraine's determination and make no 47 00:02:22,770 --> 00:02:25,389 mistake . Ukraine's partners around the 48 00:02:25,399 --> 00:02:28,880 world have its back . Now . 49 00:02:29,270 --> 00:02:31,159 It's been nearly two months since 50 00:02:31,159 --> 00:02:33,159 President Biden signed the national 51 00:02:33,159 --> 00:02:35,399 security supplemental . The United 52 00:02:35,410 --> 00:02:37,188 States is continuing to deliver 53 00:02:37,188 --> 00:02:39,188 urgently needed security assistance 54 00:02:39,188 --> 00:02:41,132 through more presidential drawdown 55 00:02:41,132 --> 00:02:43,320 packages . Since the supplemental 56 00:02:43,330 --> 00:02:45,580 became law , the United States has 57 00:02:45,589 --> 00:02:48,440 already achieved already delivered tens 58 00:02:48,449 --> 00:02:50,419 of thousands of artillery rounds , 59 00:02:50,919 --> 00:02:54,000 thousands of anti tank mines , hundreds 60 00:02:54,009 --> 00:02:57,449 of Gimler and anti tank weapons and 61 00:02:57,460 --> 00:02:59,571 more air defense capabilities to help 62 00:02:59,571 --> 00:03:01,800 Ukraine repel Russian forces near 63 00:03:01,809 --> 00:03:05,139 Kharkiv . President Biden also 64 00:03:05,149 --> 00:03:07,205 announced a new package of draw down 65 00:03:07,205 --> 00:03:09,260 assistance that will provide Ukraine 66 00:03:09,260 --> 00:03:11,316 with more air defense interceptors , 67 00:03:11,316 --> 00:03:13,371 armored vehicles , anti tank weapons 68 00:03:13,371 --> 00:03:16,660 and artillery systems and munitions . I 69 00:03:16,669 --> 00:03:18,725 am proud that this contact group has 70 00:03:18,725 --> 00:03:20,850 committed more than $98 billion in 71 00:03:20,860 --> 00:03:22,916 security assistance to Ukraine since 72 00:03:22,916 --> 00:03:25,839 February 2022 . And this coalition 73 00:03:25,850 --> 00:03:28,220 continues to find innovative and 74 00:03:28,229 --> 00:03:31,750 sustainable ways to rush in critical 75 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:33,759 capabilities to meet Ukraine's most 76 00:03:33,759 --> 00:03:36,440 pressing needs . Let me highlight just 77 00:03:36,449 --> 00:03:39,190 a few of them . I'm grateful to Sweden 78 00:03:39,199 --> 00:03:41,199 for announcing its largest military 79 00:03:41,199 --> 00:03:42,810 assistance package yet worth 80 00:03:42,810 --> 00:03:46,179 approximately $1.23 billion . 81 00:03:47,479 --> 00:03:49,201 And that includes two airborne 82 00:03:49,201 --> 00:03:51,423 surveillance and control aircraft which 83 00:03:51,423 --> 00:03:53,146 will be critical for Ukraine's 84 00:03:53,146 --> 00:03:56,440 long-range air surveillance . I'm also 85 00:03:56,449 --> 00:03:58,839 grateful to our host in Belgium . We 86 00:03:58,850 --> 00:04:01,600 have committed to deliver 30 F-16 87 00:04:01,610 --> 00:04:04,839 fighters to Ukraine by 2028 as well as 88 00:04:04,850 --> 00:04:06,960 an additional $1 billion in military 89 00:04:06,970 --> 00:04:10,339 aid this year . And I'd like to thank 90 00:04:10,350 --> 00:04:12,610 Spain for its recent pledge of more air 91 00:04:12,619 --> 00:04:15,830 defense missiles . And so countries are 92 00:04:15,839 --> 00:04:18,329 moving at flank speed to get Ukraine 93 00:04:18,339 --> 00:04:20,395 the capabilities that it so urgently 94 00:04:20,395 --> 00:04:23,609 needs and we must keep doing so . We 95 00:04:23,619 --> 00:04:25,690 must keep finding new solutions , 96 00:04:26,010 --> 00:04:28,089 especially for Ukraine's air defense 97 00:04:28,100 --> 00:04:30,329 challenges and we will continue to 98 00:04:30,339 --> 00:04:32,690 support Ukraine's long term security . 99 00:04:33,470 --> 00:04:35,581 And you can see that in Ukraine's new 100 00:04:35,581 --> 00:04:37,526 bilateral security agreements with 101 00:04:37,526 --> 00:04:40,609 Belgium , Iceland , Norway , Portugal , 102 00:04:40,619 --> 00:04:44,010 Spain and Sweden . This contact group 103 00:04:44,019 --> 00:04:46,075 is also supporting Ukraine's work to 104 00:04:46,075 --> 00:04:48,297 strengthen and modernize its forces for 105 00:04:48,297 --> 00:04:51,079 the long haul . The eight capability 106 00:04:51,089 --> 00:04:53,920 coalitions provide a practical nimble 107 00:04:53,929 --> 00:04:56,269 mechanism for allies and partners to do 108 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,910 just that . I'm grateful for the 109 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,290 coalition leadership group's work to 110 00:05:01,299 --> 00:05:03,890 drive progress across each capability 111 00:05:03,899 --> 00:05:06,209 coalition . And just yesterday , the 112 00:05:06,220 --> 00:05:08,649 coalition leadership group met to 113 00:05:08,660 --> 00:05:10,660 discuss the next steps to meet both 114 00:05:10,670 --> 00:05:13,279 Ukraine's short term needs and its long 115 00:05:13,290 --> 00:05:15,730 term requirements . And I look forward 116 00:05:15,739 --> 00:05:18,230 to hearing updates today from the drone 117 00:05:18,239 --> 00:05:21,350 coalition . The drone coalition is 118 00:05:21,359 --> 00:05:23,192 working to help Ukraine fend off 119 00:05:23,192 --> 00:05:25,380 Russian aggression today and deter 120 00:05:25,390 --> 00:05:27,980 Russian aggression tomorrow for its 121 00:05:27,989 --> 00:05:30,399 long term security . Ukraine needs a 122 00:05:30,410 --> 00:05:32,820 robust , effective and self reliant 123 00:05:32,829 --> 00:05:35,540 defense industry . So the United States 124 00:05:35,549 --> 00:05:37,605 is working closely with this contact 125 00:05:37,605 --> 00:05:39,716 group to strengthen Ukraine's defense 126 00:05:39,720 --> 00:05:43,279 industry and to foster joint projects . 127 00:05:44,109 --> 00:05:47,500 Now , we got a lot of work ahead for 128 00:05:47,760 --> 00:05:50,220 support for Ukraine is growing and not 129 00:05:50,230 --> 00:05:52,779 waning . In fact , I'm pleased to 130 00:05:52,790 --> 00:05:55,980 welcome Argentina as a new member , 131 00:05:57,079 --> 00:05:59,750 Minister , Petri is glad , I'm glad to 132 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:01,649 have you with us . And ladies and 133 00:06:01,649 --> 00:06:03,899 gentlemen , this is a critical moment . 134 00:06:04,359 --> 00:06:06,579 The stakes of this war are high and 135 00:06:06,589 --> 00:06:08,811 Ukraine's survival is on the line , but 136 00:06:08,829 --> 00:06:12,320 so is all of our security . None of us 137 00:06:12,329 --> 00:06:14,329 would want to live in a world where 138 00:06:14,329 --> 00:06:17,570 Putin prevails . We would all be less 139 00:06:17,579 --> 00:06:20,350 secure if tyrants think that they can 140 00:06:20,359 --> 00:06:23,480 trample borders and cow their neighbors . 141 00:06:24,410 --> 00:06:26,890 So we have a lot to do , but I am 142 00:06:26,899 --> 00:06:28,843 confident that this coalition will 143 00:06:28,843 --> 00:06:31,177 continue to rise to the challenge again . 144 00:06:31,177 --> 00:06:33,410 Thanks for being here today and with 145 00:06:33,420 --> 00:06:35,531 that , we'll pause for a moment while 146 00:06:35,531 --> 00:06:37,753 our friends in the media depart . Thank 147 00:06:37,753 --> 00:06:39,940 you . Go to , I know .