On April 26 the 21st meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group was held. Many countries made new pledges to continue to help Kyiv restore its combat capabilities. The need is urgent – right now there is an ongoing Russian offensive in several directions of the contact line, and there is a threat to Chasiv Yar city, as well as to Kharkiv, the second-largest Ukrainian city.
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin announced an additional commitment of $6 billion through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) that will allow to procure new capabilities for Ukraine from U.S. industry. “This is the largest security assistance package that we’ve committed to date,” said Mr.Austin.
The newly announced military aid package includes interceptors for Patriot and NASAMS air defense systems, anti-drone systems, and support equipment, according to Austin.
In his turn, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also commented on the need for military aid for Ukraine. The Secretary General welcomed that other Allies have stepped up with new decisions, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands. He also pointed to the importance of German leadership in support of Ukraine, noting that Germany is the biggest European contributor of military aid. He thanked Germany for its decision to send a third Patriot system to Ukraine, adding: “I strongly believe that other Allies should follow the example of Germany.”
Same time the Danish government and parliament have announced an agreement to increase funding for the Ukraine Fund, a mechanism for long-term military support for Ukraine, by an additional DKK 4.4 billion ($631 million) for 2024. The additional funds will be used primarily for direct military support to Ukraine in the form of weapons, other military equipment, and training programs. This includes ordering weapons from manufacturers and financing initiatives of other countries. The bill also provides for the possibility of direct purchases from Ukraine’s defense industry “in the presence of the necessary control mechanisms.”
According to Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair, Canada will donate $2.2 million to Ukraine’s domestic UAV production. This is the first time Canada has directly contributed to the production of military drones in Ukraine. The donation will be made in collaboration with the U.K., according to the Canadian government’s statement. Also, Canada will allocate another $9.5 million to a Czech-led ammunition initiative, which aims to purchase 500,000 155 mm shells and 300,000 122 mm shells outside of Europe for Ukraine.
So, despite the efforts of Russian propaganda, there is no fatigue with Ukraine, and our partners continue to actively support Kyiv. In this way, Western countries are contributing to their own security. Because arms exports to Ukraine are stimulating the economy of these countries and boosting their global leadership. As Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski aptly underlined at the Atlantic Council meeting “aiding Ukraine is “not only a good deed. It’s also a good deal”. NATO Secretary General also shares this point of view. In his comments for CNN news, he told the same, word by word: “Aid to Ukraine ‘is not charity, but an investment in our own security”.
