Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin at 16th Ukraine Defense Contact Group: ‘Let me start by thanking President Zelenskyy for joining us today. today, we’ll discuss Ukraine’s immediate requirements, meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs—especially for air defense and ammunition.’

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1. We must continue to rush Ukraine what it needs to meet its current challenges, even as we continue to develop Ukraine’s combat capabilities to ward off future dangers.

   So we’re here to dig deep to meet Ukraine’s most urgent needs—especially for air defense and ammunition.

   I look forward to hearing about the new support packages that many countries here are preparing.

   And I am proud that the United States will announce its latest security assistance package for Ukraine, valued at $200 million.

   It includes AIM-9 munitions for a new air-defense system that we will soon deliver to Ukraine, as well as artillery and rocket ammunition, precision aerial munitions, anti-tank weapons, and equipment to counter Russian drones.

   That puts America’s total commitment at some $43.9 billion since the start of Putin’s war.

   And I’m proud that this coalition of some 50 nations of goodwill from around the world has rallied to commit more than $33 billion in security assistance to Ukraine.

   In fact, more than a dozen of our allies have committed more to Ukraine than the United States as a percentage of their GDP.

   Now, we’re also here to discuss how to balance our immediate support to defend Ukraine with our longer-term assistance.

   The next step forward in our long-term vision will be working with our fellow Contact Group members to organize what we’re calling “capability coalitions.”

   These coalitions will be responsible for coordinating contributions from coalition members for each major capability area.

   We have already organized highly effective coalitions focused on Leopard tanks and F-16 training, which have marshalled resources from multiple countries.