U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) Secretary, Lloyd J. Austin III, recently announced via social media that he had engaged in discussions with Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, regarding the latest efforts to support Ukraine in its ongoing conflict with Russia. The announcement was made on X, a platform formerly known as Twitter.
Austin stated: "Today, I spoke with my Ukraine counterpart @rustem_umerov to discuss the latest on the ground & the upcoming meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group on Jan. 23. The U.S. & our coalition of some 50 Allies & partners remain committed to supporting Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression."
According to a news release from the DOD, a virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) took place on January 23 and involved representatives from 54 countries. These nations are providing support for Ukraine's defense by supplying military equipment in response to Russia's invasion in 2022. Both Austin and Umerov have committed to maintaining close communication.
In December, it was reported by the DOD that the UDGC has provided approximately $80 billion in assistance for Ukraine's military endeavors. The group has discussed various strategies for ensuring long-term success for Ukraine including enabling Ukraine to produce their own munitions and repair their own equipment, expanding logistics information technology systems and developing capabilities for technical data packages related to spare parts.
William A. LaPlante, undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, commented on these efforts saying: "To date, the group's efforts have helped increase production of critical munitions and interceptors around the globe, establish repair facilities, translate technical manuals, deliver spare parts, and most importantly, get contracts awarded to our partners in industry." He further added that this involves "establishing specific targets for production numbers," "awarding contracts," and "thinking creatively and collaboratively to enable successful execution. Whether working through intellectual property access, export control regulations, or mechanisms for greater co-development, co-production and co-sustainment, we have to dive into the hard conversations and find a way forward together."
