20 Countries Sending Weapons To Ukraine: U.S. Defense Chief

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has confirmed that 20 countries will offer Ukraine new security assistance packages after the meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group, including “donating critically needed artillery ammunition, coastal defense systems, and tanks and other armored vehicles,” Kyiv Independent reported.

Photo Insert: US weapons arriving in Ukraine

Other countries made new commitments to training the Ukrainian military and sustaining its military systems, Austin added. A total of 47 countries participated in the virtual meeting.

The next meeting will be held on June 15. Austin said the Czech Republic agreed to send “substantial support” to Ukraine, including “a recent donation of attack helicopters, tanks, and rocket systems.” Poland, Greece, Norway, and Italy will send artillery systems and ammunition.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis has the creation of a maritime coalition “of the willing” to lift the Russian blockade of the Black Sea on Ukrainian grain exports during talks with the UK Foreign Secretary, The Guardian reported.

“We must show vulnerable countries we are prepared to take the steps needed to feed the world,” he said. Russia has so far ignored pleas to end the Black Sea blockade preventing Ukraine from shipping most of its grain to international markets.

The German newspaper Bild has claimed that the German government has been blocking delivery of up to 100 Marder infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) to Ukraine for weeks.

The German media also reported that contrary to Berlin’s claim that its military doesn’t have any infantry fighting vehicle (IFV) available to help Ukraine, Bild said, citing a source, that the German Defense Ministry has 32 Marder tanks that are “no longer used” and could have been repaired within six weeks.

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