US to convene meeting on Ukraine in Germany

By Diyar Guldogan

WASHINGTON (AA) - US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. CQ Brown departed for Germany on Monday to attend the 20th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

"Our coalition of some 50 nations will continue to stand together to support Ukraine's immediate battlefield needs and long-term security," Austin said on X.

Tuesday's meeting at Ramstein Air Base will gather nearly 50 countries that have provided military assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia since February 2022.

Last week, the US announced a new $300 million emergency military aid package to assist Ukraine.

This will be Austin's first overseas trip since his surgery in December.