WEBVTT

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Good morning . Let me extend a warm

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welcome to our distinguished ministers

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and Chiefs of Defense . Thank you for

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joining us for today's 14th meeting of

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the Ukraine Defense Contact Group . I'm

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Celeste Wallander , Assistant Secretary

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of Defense for International Security

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Affairs and I'll serve as facilitator

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for today's contact group . I would

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like to thank Ukraine's Minister of

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Defense Alexei Reznikoff for joining us .

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Again . Today , we value your presence

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and are looking forward to hearing your

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thoughts here shortly . So now please

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let me introduce Secretary of Defense

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Lloyd Austin to deliver opening remarks .

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Well , thanks , Secretary and a good ,

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good day , everyone . Uh Thanks for

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joining us uh for the 14th meeting of

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the Ukraine Defense Contact group . And

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uh again , I'm , I'm especially glad

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that we uh are joined by our good

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friend . Uh Alexi Rosko ,

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Alexi , your leadership reflects the

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fierce determination of your people .

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Ukraine has inspired the world with his

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courage and spirit in the face of

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lawless Russian aggression . Russia's

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war of choice has now lasted more than

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500 days . It was entirely unprovoked .

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It is entirely unnecessary and it is

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entirely unjust . Russia continues to

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bombard Ukraine's cities and no

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civilian is safe and Russia's missiles ,

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missile barrages and drone strikes have

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inflicted untold death , injury and

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trauma on innocent Ukrainian men ,

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women and Children . But after more

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than a year of war , the whole world

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can see Russia's failure to achieve

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the goals of its war of aggression .

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Ukrainian people have shown deep

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resilience in the face of great cruelty

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and Ukraine's forces continue to fight

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valiantly to defend their fellow

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citizens and their country . Ukraine's

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counteroffensive marks a key moment in

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this tragic war . Ukrainian armed

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forces have taken the initiative to

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regain control of their sovereign

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territory but Russia's aggression

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against Ukraine has produced a highly

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volatile situation . Putin's war

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continues to take a terrible and bloody

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toll . As I've said , Ukraine's fight

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for freedom is a marathon and not a

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sprint . We've supplied Ukraine with

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critical capabilities such as air

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defense and ammunition and we're not

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going to let up . So this contact group

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has come together again to stand up for

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some crucial shared principles ,

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sovereignty , human rights ,

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freedom in a refusal to live in a world

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where big countries can just invade

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their peaceful neighbors and redraw

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borders by force . So make no mistake .

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We will continue to move heaven and

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earth to get Ukraine what it needs .

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And this contact group is an ongoing

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testament to our shared resolve and we

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will continue to stand with Ukraine's

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defenders as we have since the start of

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Russia's indefensible invasion and

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we will continue to provide Ukraine

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with what it needs and when it needs it ,

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and the United States will continue to

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support Ukraine as it strengthens its

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capabilities and fights in to live in

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freedom and security . We will continue

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to provide training equipment and

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support to the Ukrainian armed forces

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to help build a capable and

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professional Ukrainian military that

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can defend itself now and deter

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aggression in the future . Earlier this

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month , the United States provided

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another security assistance package for

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Ukraine valued at $800 million . That

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package funds more air defense systems

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and munitions as well as critical

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rounds of ammunition that Ukraine needs

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right now . We're also providing more

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bred leaves and strikers and javelin ,

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any anti tank systems and mine clearing

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equipment . This package underscores

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President Biden's deep commitment to

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support Ukraine for the long haul and

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I'm proud that we are joined in his

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historic effort by so many staunch

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allies and valued partners . And we

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deeply appreciate the efforts that all

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of you have made to support Ukraine's

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right to live as a sovereign state .

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Recently , Norway committed to sending

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additional components that will expand

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Ukraine's nasa's air defense systems

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and Germany will support a new package

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worth $770 million which

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will include patriot launchers and 24

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leopard tanks and 40 Marty infantry

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fighting vehicles and 20,000 artillery

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rounds . In addition , France announced

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that it will provide Ukraine with scalp

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long range missiles and Australia will

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send 70 additional military vehicles

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and much needed artillery ammunition to

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Ukraine . And ladies and gentlemen ,

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Ukraine is fighting for its life . The

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stakes are high but this contact group

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has never shied away from a challenge .

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This is a profoundly important moment

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in the history of this war end of this

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century . And the United States will

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stand with Ukraine for as long as it

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takes . And so will this contact group

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together ? We'll continue to move

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heaven and earth to let Ukraine defend

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its freedom . And so with that , I'll

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pause to let our friends and the media

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depart it .