Air defense, shells and long-range missiles: 20th meeting of Ukraine Defence Contact Group takes place in Germany

The press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reports.

The Ukrainian delegation is headed by the Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

"The priorities for Ukraine at this meeting are the provision of air defense systems and missiles to them, as well as long-range missiles. Artillery shells, especially 155 mm caliber, modern electronic warfare and signals intelligence systems, and armored vehicles remain a constant issue for discussion," the defense ministry said.

Lloyd Austin promises Ukraine everything it needs to resist the aggressor

At the opening of the meeting of the Contact Group, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that Ukraine will not retreat, and the United States will not allow Ukraine to fail, Radio Liberty reports.

"The United States will not let Ukraine fail. This coalition will not let Ukraine fail. And the free world will not let Ukraine fail.

Just last week, the United States announced additional security assistance for Ukraine, valued at $300 million. This is an extraordinary measure to support Ukraine's most pressing needs for air defense, artillery, and anti-tank capabilities," Austin said.

The US Secretary of Defense emphasized that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not stop at Ukraine, but Ukraine can stop Putin if it receives the weapons it needs to defend itself.

"Ukraine's survival is on the line. And all of our security is on the line. So we will continue to stand together to resist Putin's campaign of conquest. And we will continue to keep the faith with the people of Ukraine," Austin emphasized.

According to him, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group continues to work to provide Ukraine with the capabilities necessary to build the forces that will ensure its long-term security.

"We're coordinating on cross-cutting issues such as drones, sustainment, command-and-control, training, and galvanizing our defense industrial bases. The eight capability coalitions have made significant progress in recent weeks. We'll keep working together with all of the capability coalitions to identify gaps, to maintain cross-cutting needs, and to help Ukraine build a formidable force for the future," the US defense secretary said.

Germany allocates EUR 500 million for 10,000 artillery pieces

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced a EUR 500 million aid package for Ukraine, Reuters reports.

According to him, the aid package will include 10,000 artillery shells.

Pistorius also believes that the United States remains a reliable partner. "I have no doubt about the reliability of the Americans. There are particularities in the political systems, and we have to deal with that," he added.

When asked by Radio Liberty about progress on the long-range Taurus, the German Defense Minister said that there was "no news about it."

Estonia has options to send more ammunition to Ukraine

Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur, in turn, emphasized that his country has "various options for sending more ammunition to Ukraine" from outside Europe, Radio Liberty reports.

He also noted that he plans to arrive in Kyiv tomorrow, March 20.

Finland to allocate EUR 30 million for ammunition under Czech initiative

Finnish Defense Minister Antti Häkkänen announced that the government will allocate EUR 30 million for the purchase of ammunition for Ukraine as part of the Czech Republic's initiative.