In brief
In a critical address, President Zelensky emphasizes the need for continued global military backing for Ukraine amidst looming changes in U.S. leadership
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine made a fervent appeal on Thursday to military representatives from approximately 50 nations, emphasizing the importance of maintaining support in Ukraine's ongoing struggle against Russia, which has lasted for nearly three years. Zelensky warned, “It would be crazy to drop the ball now,” highlighting the urgency of cooperation. As he addressed the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, he acknowledged that a new chapter for Europe and the world begins on January 20, coinciding with the inauguration of U.S. President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has expressed reservations about continued support for Ukraine. “We’ve come so far that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball and not keep building on the defense coalitions we’ve created,” Zelensky stated. His remarks opened the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which has convened monthly since the onset of the conflict, involving over 53 countries that have collectively provided financial assistance, military supplies, and hardware to Ukraine.At the meeting, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin announced a new military aid package amounting to $500 million for Ukraine, a continuation of the Biden administration's efforts to ensure sustained assistance in the final weeks of its tenure.
