WASHINGTON (AP) – Nearly 50 defense leaders from around the world met on Monday and agreed to send more modern weapons to Ukraine, including a harpoon launcher and missiles to protect its shores, the defense minister told reporters. Lloyd Austin.
Gen. Mark Mili, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said a “low-level” discussion was under way on how the United States might need to adjust its training to Ukrainian forces and whether some US troops should be based in Ukraine.
The United States withdrew its few troops to pre-war Ukraine and has no plans to send troops. Millie’s comments left open the possibility of troops returning to guard the embassy or other non-combatant role.
The U.S. embassy in Kyiv has partially reopened and is recruiting again, with questions about whether the U.S. will send Marine security forces back to help protect the embassy, or whether other options should be considered.
Asked if US Special Operations Forces could enter Ukraine, which officials insist they are not yet doing, Millie said “any reintroduction of US forces into Ukraine will require a presidential decision.” So we are very far from something like that. “
Speaking to Pentagon reporters, Austin declined to say whether the United States would send Ukraine the high-tech mobile missile systems they requested. But Austin said about 20 countries announced on Monday that they would send new security aid packages to Ukraine as its war with Russia reaches a three-month mark.
In particular, he said Denmark had agreed to send a harpoon and missiles to Ukraine to help Ukraine defend its coast. Russia has ships in the Black Sea and has used them to launch cruise missiles in Ukraine. Russian ships have also stopped all merchant ships from entering Ukrainian ports.
“We have gained a sharper, shared sense of Ukraine’s priority requirements and the situation on the battlefield,” Austin told reporters at the end of a virtual meeting with defense leaders. “Many countries donate much-needed artillery ammunition, coastal defense systems and tanks and other armored vehicles. Others have come up with new training commitments. ”
The United States and other countries are training Ukrainian forces in nearby European countries.
Austin added that the Czech Republic had recently donated attack helicopters, tanks and missiles, and Italy, Greece, Norway and Poland announced new donations of artillery systems and ammunition on Monday.
“The nature of the battle, as you’ve heard us describe several times, is … really shaped by the artillery at this stage,” Austin said. “And we’ve seen a serious exchange of artillery fire over the last few weeks.”
Austin said that during the virtual meeting, representatives of Ukraine clarified their security needs. And he said they are in line with what has been identified in recent weeks – long-range artillery and missile systems, armored personnel carriers and drones.
Millie provided the greatest details so far about the increased US presence in Europe since Russia’s invasion in late February. Last fall. there were approximately 78,000 U.S. troops in the region, to 102,000, including 24 surface ships, four submarines, 12 combat squadrons, two combat air units, and six combat brigade combat teams, along with the leadership of their divisions and corps.
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