The leader of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, met with military leaders from the United States and more than 50 allied countries in Germany on Friday. A meeting at Ramstein Air Base heard Zelenskyy’s call for more weapons to help Ukraine’s fight against Russia. The U.S. replied by saying it would give $250 million more to help with security.
Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Defense Secretary, led the meeting and said that Ukraine was playing a very important role in the war. While the Ukrainian military is starting its first combat actions, Russian troops are putting a lot of pressure on the area around Donbas.
The First Speech by Zelenskyy at Ramstein
This was Zelenskyy’s first time meeting people in person at Ramstein. He stressed that Ukraine needs to be able to use arms from the West to attack deeper into Russian land. At this point, the U.S. has not let Ukraine use the long-range weapons it has given them directly against Russia because they are afraid it could make the war worse.
“We need this long-range capability not just in Ukraine but also in Russia to push them toward peace,” Zelenskyy said. He also said this would make Russian towns and forces think twice about their backing for the war.
Kursk has Recently Gone Up.
Ukraine recently attacked Russia without warning in the Kursk area, taking control of about 1,300 kilometres (800 miles) of the Russian land. Zelenskyy said that Ukrainian troops killed or hurt about 6,000 Russian soldiers. Russian President Vladimir Putin, on the other hand, is still determined to take Pokrovsk, an important Ukrainian city with key rail and supply routes.
Austin also said that Putin would not give up, especially around Pokrovsk, even though they had lost in Kursk.
Zelenskyy Wants Air Defenses to be Sent Out Faster
Because of the recent Russian attacks, Zelenskyy has again asked the U.S. and its partners to speed up the supply of air defense weapons. He said, “Many promised systems have not yet arrived,” emphasizing how important it is to get more defense against Russian threats immediately.
The goal of Friday’s meeting was to discuss giving Ukraine more weapons and air defence equipment. Allies from the West are also working with Ukraine to find an alternative to the Soviet-era S-300 air defense systems.
Take a Look at Air-to-Ground Missiles
The U.S. is considering sending Ukraine air-to-ground missiles that can work with the new F-16 fighter jets they just got. One of the choices being considered is a long-range cruise weapon called the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM).
The Pentagon’s top weapon buyer, Bill LaPlante, stated that the missile is being considered, but a decision has yet to be made. He said, “Any air-to-ground weapon is being considered,” which could mean that Ukraine’s air power will be helped in the future.
Billions to Help the Military Starting in 2022
Since the war began in 2022, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group has worked hard to help Ukraine’s military. The group has sent weapons and gear worth more than $106 billion, with $56 billion coming from the U.S.
The talk came after U.S. Deputy National Security Advisor Jon Finer visited Kyiv in person on Thursday. Since the U.S. presidential race is approaching soon, Zelenskyy wants to get long-term backing from Washington.
Later on Friday, Zelenskyy will also meet with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Frankfurt to discuss more help and plans for ending the war.
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