Representatives from around 50 Western countries supporting Ukraine held a final meeting at a US base in Germany before US President-elect Donald Trump took office.
Yesterday afternoon (Vietnam time), representatives of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group (UDCG) began a meeting at the US Ramstein Air Base in Germany, attended by US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This was the 25th and final meeting of the UDCG, comprising 50 countries supporting Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, before US President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20th, according to AFP.
New aid package
Speaking at the meeting, Secretary Austin emphasized that Ukraine's fight against Russia's military campaign "means for all of us." Here, Austin announced a new $500 million military aid package including missiles to enhance Ukraine's air defense capabilities, ammunition, and other equipment to support Ukraine's F-16 fighter jets, according to AFP.
Attending the meeting in Ramstein, Kaja Kallas, the European Union's High Commissioner for Foreign Policy, said she hoped the US would continue to support Ukraine after President-elect Donald Trump takes office, and if not, the EU would be ready to lead the effort. Meanwhile, President Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine's allies would have to cooperate more after Trump's inauguration, adding that the new US administration would bring "new opportunities."
Ukrainian soldiers in Kharkiv province open fire on Russian troops on the front line on January 6.
Earlier, Secretary Austin initiated a process to coordinate the delivery of fighter jets, tanks, missiles, air defense systems, and weapons to Ukraine, but this process risks becoming uncertain as President Trump prepares to take office. The leader has questioned U.S. support for Ukraine and criticized NATO allies for spending too little on common defense. Under outgoing President Joe Biden, the U.S. is the largest provider of military aid to Ukraine, totaling more than $65 billion since February 2022. Germany follows, with approximately $30 billion.
Trump's goal
Meanwhile, in an interview with Fox News on January 8, Keith Kellogg, President-elect Trump's choice as his special peace envoy for Ukraine, said the leader aims to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict within 100 days of taking office. Kellogg added that his personal goal and responsibility is to help Trump mediate a solution by that time.
The push for a swift end to the Russia-Ukraine conflict has led to concerns that Kyiv will be pressured into making unfavorable concessions, including the loss of territory, according to The Kyiv Independent . Ukrainian President Zelensky acknowledged that his country's military is currently unable to use force to regain all territory controlled by Russia and suggested that some areas will have to be recaptured through diplomatic means.
New developments in the war situation.
As of yesterday, the Russia-Ukraine conflict had lasted 1,050 days and showed no signs of abating. The Ukrainian Air Force claimed to have shot down 46 out of 70 drones launched by Russia on the night of January 8th and the early morning of January 9th, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced yesterday that its Ka-52M combat helicopter had destroyed a Ukrainian military outpost along with its personnel and equipment in the Kursk province of Russia. As of last night, there was no information on the reactions of either side to these claims.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ukraine-duoc-tiep-them-suc-manh-185250109221755386.htm
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