16 Mar 2023 10:25

U.S. secretary of defense vows to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine

WASHINGTON. March 16 (Interfax) - U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has given assurances that the United States and allies will continue to supply weapons to Ukraine and to train Ukrainian troops.

"We must keep going, so we're going to help Ukraine sustain the tanks, the infantry fighting vehicles and other armored vehicles that are making their way into the front lines, and we're going to continue urgently training Ukrainian soldiers on the capabilities that we're providing," Austin said at a press conference following a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

"We're going to keep looking into our stocks and into our budget to resupply Ukraine throughout the year," he said.

The U.S. and allies will keep working to provide new assistance to Kiev, he said.

"Our fellow Contact Group members also know that we have to deliver swiftly and fully on our promised commitments," Austin said.

Austin said that, in particular, Sweden has pledged to transfer ten Leopard tanks and "key air defense assets" to Ukraine, while the Netherlands intends to sign new arms supply contracts.