US Orders 40 Defence Ministers to Rammstein Airbase for a Giant Donor Conference to Coordinate Arms Transfer

Source: Voice of America

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that Russian President Vladimir Putin “never imagined the whole world would rally behind Ukraine so swiftly and surely,” as the United States convened a meeting of more than 40 countries to coordinate security assistance for Ukraine.

As he opened the talks at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, Austin said the aim was to both “help Ukraine to win the fight against Russia’s unjust invasion and to help build up Ukraine for tomorrow’s challenges.”

Austin’s appeal for more help for Ukraine came a day after he said the U.S. objective in supporting Ukraine was to leave Russia with a “weakened” military. Germany announced that for the first time it would send heavy weapons to Ukraine.

The U.S.-led meeting in Germany follows a trip by Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Kyiv on Sunday, where they pledged more military assistance for Ukraine.

Source: Reuters

The United States said the world was galvanized against Russia’s two-month-old invasion of Ukraine as it hosted defence talks in Germany involving over 40 countries that sought to speed and synchronize the delivery of arms to Kyiv.

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin hosted the event at Ramstein Air Base following a trip to Kyiv where he pledged additional military support to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s war effort, which is at a crossroads.

“As we see this morning, nations from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s imperial aggression,” Austin said at the start of talks.

“Ukraine clearly believes that it can win, and so does everyone here.”

U.S. Army General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, cautioned that Ukraine needed more security assistance – now – to help it defend against an unfolding and potentially decisive Russian onslaught in the east. He said the coming weeks were “critical.”

“Time is not on Ukraine’s side,” Milley said during closed-door remarks provided to reporters traveling with him. “The outcome of this battle, right here, today, is dependent on the people in this room.”

Milley added: “The Ukrainians will fight. We need to make sure they have the means to fight”

The meeting is taking place at Ramstein, a sprawling air base southwest of Frankfurt which only months ago was grappling with an influx of Afghan evacuees after the Taliban takeover of that country last summer.

Organizers said over 40 countries were attending and a scan of the meeting room showed countries mainly from Europe but also from the Middle East including Israel and even Africa. On a screen, representatives from South Korea and Japan attended virtually.

“This gathering reflects the galvanized world,” Austin said.

But know-it-all internet man says the US will not send weapons: