US Secretary of Defense invites to Ukraine meeting

Created: 2022-04-21Updated: 2022-04-21, 11:52 PM

Meeting in Ramstein, Germany: Lloyd Austin wants to advise on the war in Ukraine.

© Evan Vucci/AP/dpa

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin plans to meet with colleagues from several countries on the war in Ukraine next week at the US Ramstein Air Force Base in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Washington - The meeting should take place next Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced on Thursday.

Kirby did not provide details on the list of participants.

But not only NATO countries would be invited, he said.

One goal of the meeting is the lasting security and sovereignty of Ukraine.

It should therefore be about Ukraine's defense needs beyond the current war.

"We think it's time to have that discussion as well," Kirby said.

It should also be about continued military support for Ukraine.

Earlier in the day, the US government announced $800 million in new military aid.

dpa