The Czech Republic recently donated combat helicopters, tanks, and missile systems to the Ukrainian army, which are now in the possession of Ukrainian armed forces, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said during a news conference on Monday.
Austin spoke to journalists following a virtual meeting with the related countries’ representatives to discuss further military assistance to Ukraine.
The Czech Ministry of Defense, which did not want to talk about the specifics of military equipment supplies to Ukraine in the past, is understood to have prepared a statement. According to Austin, approximately 20 countries have committed to providing the Ukrainian army with additional weapons.
“Today’s meeting was very good,” Austin said of the group’s virtual meeting, which first met at Austin’s invitation in late April in Ramstein, Germany.
Austin named two countries specifically, Denmark for coastal defense technology, and the Czech Republic for its significant support, including the recent donation of attack helicopters, tanks, and missile systems.
Virtual meetings are taking place every month
“Many countries donated artillery ammunition, coastal defense systems, tanks, and other armored vehicles, which are indispensable,” the U.S. secretary of defense added, mentioning Italy, Greece, Norway, and Poland.
Austin thanked the United Kingdom for coordinating the deliveries of security aid to Ukraine and sending a large amount of military equipment to Kyiv.
“Everyone here understands what’s at stake in this war,” the Pentagon chief said.
Austin called a meeting of allied countries less than a month ago and said it would meet regularly every four weeks — NATO Secretary Jens Stoltenberg also attended the first talks. Austin insisted that the meetings were not held under the auspices of NATO and that representatives of non-member countries were also welcome.
According to Austin, representatives of more than 40 countries took part in Monday’s meeting, with Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Ireland, and Kosovo joining since the last meeting.
