WEBVTT 00:07.389 --> 00:09.445 Well , good morning , everyone . And 00:09.445 --> 00:12.069 thanks for joining the 24th meeting of 00:12.079 --> 00:14.079 the Ukraine Defense Contact group . 00:14.909 --> 00:17.149 It's great to be back at Ramstein and 00:17.159 --> 00:19.569 it's great to see all of you again . 00:20.309 --> 00:23.600 Let me thank Minister Pistorius for 00:23.610 --> 00:27.219 welcoming us again in Germany . I'd 00:27.229 --> 00:29.451 like to also welcome Lieutenant General 00:29.451 --> 00:32.180 Curtis Buzzer . He's just taken over as 00:32.189 --> 00:34.356 a commander of the Security Assistance 00:34.356 --> 00:36.779 Group . Ukraine and Curtis , we know 00:36.790 --> 00:38.790 that you'll do an outstanding job . 00:39.720 --> 00:41.939 It's also great to see Minister Umarov 00:42.709 --> 00:44.376 and the rest of the Ukrainian 00:44.376 --> 00:46.860 delegation . As many of you know , 00:48.169 --> 00:50.225 we have a special guest here with us 00:50.225 --> 00:53.169 today , President Zelensky . Ok . 01:01.099 --> 01:03.321 And Mr President , your forces and your 01:03.321 --> 01:06.489 people have inspired the world and you 01:06.500 --> 01:08.556 have seen firsthand how this contact 01:08.556 --> 01:10.778 group has moved heaven and earth to get 01:10.778 --> 01:13.040 Ukraine what it needs . We are 01:13.050 --> 01:15.217 absolutely honored to have you here in 01:15.217 --> 01:17.919 person at Ramstein for the first time . 01:19.150 --> 01:22.019 And Mr President , the floor is yours . 01:24.349 --> 01:26.930 Thank you very much , Senator . Thank 01:26.940 --> 01:29.839 you for invitation and thank you very 01:29.849 --> 01:32.669 much for your uh leadership in this 01:32.680 --> 01:35.940 Ramstein format and for working with 01:35.949 --> 01:38.930 all of our partners . And thank you 01:39.139 --> 01:42.120 dear partners for your strong support . 01:42.419 --> 01:45.900 Uh Minister Pistorio , thank you so 01:45.910 --> 01:48.690 much for your support and a practical 01:48.699 --> 01:50.532 and effective approach to cooper 01:50.532 --> 01:53.120 operation and for welcoming us today . 01:53.300 --> 01:55.930 There are ministers , dear Generals , 01:55.940 --> 01:59.319 General Koe General Brown , all all our 01:59.330 --> 02:02.120 partners . I'm glad to , to see all of 02:02.129 --> 02:05.309 you and very much appreciate for 02:05.319 --> 02:08.029 continuously being with us since the 02:08.039 --> 02:11.809 start of this war . And until now when 02:11.820 --> 02:14.339 our brigades hold the line on the 02:14.350 --> 02:17.460 battlefield , thanks to the bravery of 02:17.490 --> 02:20.669 our Ukrainian people and your ironclad 02:20.679 --> 02:24.630 support . Now in Borovsk and in 02:25.250 --> 02:28.839 Tsk , in the Donetsk region 02:29.009 --> 02:32.419 of Ukraine , especially um 02:32.460 --> 02:35.630 overriding to fill the power of our 02:35.639 --> 02:38.130 agreements . Dear friends . Today marks 02:38.429 --> 02:41.619 one month since our army 02:41.770 --> 02:45.000 operation began in the Kursk region of 02:45.009 --> 02:47.690 Russia . This is the borderland from 02:47.699 --> 02:50.339 which Putin was preparing to expand the 02:50.350 --> 02:54.270 war in Ukrainian territory . He 02:54.279 --> 02:57.039 was preparing to launch a new offensive 02:57.050 --> 03:00.330 against our city of Sue and we have 03:00.339 --> 03:02.820 turned the tables and are pushing the 03:02.830 --> 03:05.550 war into Russia through our counter 03:05.820 --> 03:08.770 offensive . Today , we control an area 03:08.779 --> 03:12.320 of more than 1300 square kilometers in 03:12.330 --> 03:15.369 the K region and this is includes 03:15.380 --> 03:18.880 100 settlements . A significant part of 03:18.889 --> 03:22.389 this territory was abandoned by Russian 03:22.619 --> 03:25.610 troops . They simply fled when they saw 03:25.619 --> 03:27.929 our forces approaching . Of course , a 03:27.949 --> 03:31.119 significant part of the territory was 03:31.130 --> 03:34.960 taken under control by our forces in 03:34.970 --> 03:37.137 the battle . So far . During the first 03:37.137 --> 03:39.081 month of our operation in the Kurz 03:39.081 --> 03:41.192 region , the Russian forces have lost 03:41.192 --> 03:44.369 about 6000 soldiers killed and 03:44.380 --> 03:47.690 wounded in Kursk only and added 03:47.699 --> 03:50.720 tens of thousands of Russian troops in 03:50.729 --> 03:54.559 other war zones . Thanks to our actions , 03:54.610 --> 03:56.499 there is currently no threat that 03:56.500 --> 03:59.020 Russia will launch a new even of 03:59.029 --> 04:01.649 operation on our territory against the 04:01.660 --> 04:05.339 city of Suma . As was the case in May 04:05.550 --> 04:08.339 this year when Putin launched assault 04:08.350 --> 04:11.360 against our city of Kharkiv , we also 04:11.369 --> 04:14.309 see changes in the overall war 04:14.320 --> 04:16.690 situation . First of all , as a result 04:16.700 --> 04:19.859 of our actions , Putin has shown his 04:19.869 --> 04:22.600 real interest and this should be 04:22.609 --> 04:25.380 obvious even to those who could still 04:25.390 --> 04:28.290 believe that Putin is at war to protect 04:28.410 --> 04:31.399 some of his people or some of his 04:31.410 --> 04:34.359 security interests . At the same time 04:34.369 --> 04:37.519 as our advance in the coups region , 04:37.529 --> 04:39.480 the Russian army continues its 04:39.489 --> 04:42.600 offensive in Ukraine , the most capable 04:42.609 --> 04:45.149 units of the Russian army are involved 04:45.160 --> 04:47.690 in expanding the zone of occupation of 04:47.700 --> 04:50.720 our territory in the Donetsk region . 04:50.730 --> 04:53.640 This is a clear choice by Moscow . 04:53.649 --> 04:57.279 Putin wants more Ukraine to occupy than 04:57.329 --> 05:00.160 he wants security for Russia . He 05:00.170 --> 05:03.079 doesn't care about Russian land and 05:03.089 --> 05:06.230 people . He just wants to grab as much 05:06.239 --> 05:09.589 of our land and as many of our cities 05:09.600 --> 05:12.589 as possible . Secondly , Putin has 05:12.600 --> 05:15.630 already shed so much blood that against 05:15.640 --> 05:18.390 the black drop of this blood . Russia's 05:18.399 --> 05:21.750 attempts to draw red lines simply do 05:21.760 --> 05:25.149 not work . Instead , we need to keep 05:25.160 --> 05:29.109 our morale high for our joint values 05:29.119 --> 05:32.880 to rule the world and not the red lions 05:33.149 --> 05:36.269 soaked in blood . We have to sustain 05:36.420 --> 05:40.149 our spirit stamina for the world 05:40.160 --> 05:42.855 to live by rules , to be governed by 05:42.864 --> 05:46.345 law and to ensure security for all of 05:46.355 --> 05:48.345 us , for all nations and every 05:48.355 --> 05:51.334 operation that contributes to this 05:51.345 --> 05:54.464 deserves your full support . And 05:54.595 --> 05:58.274 third , we do want to end this war . 05:58.424 --> 06:01.445 We want peace , we want to save our 06:01.454 --> 06:04.774 people , first of all our country and 06:04.785 --> 06:07.415 it is Putin who doesn't want peace and 06:07.424 --> 06:10.519 is absist with territorial 06:10.529 --> 06:13.630 conquests . He wants our cities 06:14.290 --> 06:18.049 or the ruins that remain of them . 06:18.209 --> 06:20.320 And that is why we need strength . We 06:20.320 --> 06:22.950 need to force Russia to seek peace . We 06:22.959 --> 06:25.549 need to make Russia cities and even 06:25.730 --> 06:28.670 Russian soldiers think about what they 06:28.679 --> 06:32.510 need peace or Putin . And it 06:32.519 --> 06:35.000 is realistic to push them to choose 06:35.010 --> 06:38.600 peace , dear , our partners , dear , 06:38.609 --> 06:40.498 our friends . I want to say a few 06:40.498 --> 06:42.989 things now in public and some things 06:43.000 --> 06:45.910 later without the press , you will know 06:45.920 --> 06:47.809 that we are operating with them . 06:48.010 --> 06:51.029 Minimum of weaponry . Yes , we are 06:51.040 --> 06:53.750 grateful . Grateful very much for every 06:53.760 --> 06:56.109 support package that is provided to 06:56.119 --> 06:58.869 Ukraine from you , from your countries . 06:59.040 --> 07:00.929 But we need more weapons to drive 07:00.929 --> 07:03.339 Russian forces off our land and 07:03.350 --> 07:05.769 especially in the Donetsk region . Now , 07:05.779 --> 07:08.790 there are many people here at Ramstein 07:08.799 --> 07:11.959 who are actually warriors and each of 07:11.970 --> 07:14.420 you understands how important it is for 07:14.429 --> 07:16.940 a soldier to know that the front line 07:16.950 --> 07:19.170 is not only based on a soldier's 07:19.179 --> 07:22.570 loyalty to his country and his oath , 07:22.579 --> 07:25.649 but also on a sufficient supply of 07:25.660 --> 07:28.369 weapons . That is why it is important 07:28.380 --> 07:30.369 that every support package that is 07:30.380 --> 07:33.829 announced imp promptly put to work on 07:33.839 --> 07:37.130 the battlefield without any delay . The 07:37.140 --> 07:39.350 fighting in the Donetsk region depends 07:39.359 --> 07:42.570 on this . If Putin does not have any 07:42.579 --> 07:44.950 achievements there , he will not have 07:44.959 --> 07:47.160 any achievements anywhere or in 07:47.170 --> 07:49.679 anything . Next , I am grateful to all 07:49.690 --> 07:53.679 partners for the fact that the needs 07:53.690 --> 07:55.989 summit in Washington was marked by 07:56.000 --> 07:59.779 decisive on air defense systems for 07:59.790 --> 08:02.239 Ukraine . And I will not speak openly 08:02.250 --> 08:04.720 now about the number of systems we have 08:04.730 --> 08:06.839 received . Thank you so much again . 08:07.010 --> 08:09.121 But the number of air defense systems 08:09.121 --> 08:11.121 that have not yet been delivered is 08:11.121 --> 08:13.540 significant . This is what was agreed 08:13.549 --> 08:17.040 upon and this is what what has not been 08:17.059 --> 08:19.260 fully implemented . The world has 08:19.269 --> 08:22.179 enough here systems to ensure that 08:22.190 --> 08:26.149 Russian terror does not have results . 08:26.429 --> 08:29.609 And I urge you to be more active in 08:29.619 --> 08:32.260 this work with us on air defense and we 08:32.270 --> 08:35.520 have already started operating F-16s . 08:35.679 --> 08:38.080 Thank you for the support secretary and 08:38.090 --> 08:40.270 to your partners and they strike down 08:40.280 --> 08:43.190 missiles and drones . They are very 08:43.200 --> 08:46.000 efficient , but they are few , you know 08:46.010 --> 08:49.169 about it and we need much stronger of 08:49.179 --> 08:52.700 F-16s and I have proposals that I will 08:52.710 --> 08:56.270 say when the press leaves third point 08:56.280 --> 08:58.391 long range capability . I'm glad that 08:58.391 --> 09:00.719 the United States , United Kingdom , 09:00.729 --> 09:04.109 France , Italy are represented here . 09:04.119 --> 09:06.669 Thank you so much and I want to say 09:06.679 --> 09:08.900 this openly so that there is no 09:08.909 --> 09:10.798 speculation . Thanks to our joint 09:10.798 --> 09:13.200 courage , we have implemented very , 09:13.250 --> 09:16.109 very important operations in particular 09:16.119 --> 09:19.840 in Crimea . These operations allowed us 09:19.849 --> 09:22.260 to return security to the Black Sea and 09:22.270 --> 09:25.599 our food experts . Now we hear that 09:25.609 --> 09:28.619 your l long range policy has not 09:28.630 --> 09:32.150 changed , but we see changes in the in 09:32.169 --> 09:34.489 the attack on storm shadow and scars a 09:34.500 --> 09:37.070 shortage of missiles and corporation . 09:37.080 --> 09:39.640 and this applies even to our territory 09:39.650 --> 09:42.390 which is occupied by Russia including 09:42.400 --> 09:44.940 Crimea . We think it is wrong that 09:44.950 --> 09:48.169 there are such steps . We need to have 09:48.179 --> 09:50.530 this long range capability not only on 09:50.539 --> 09:52.650 the occupied territory of Ukraine but 09:52.650 --> 09:54.919 also on the Russian territory . Yes , 09:54.929 --> 09:58.320 so that Russia is motivated to seek 09:58.330 --> 10:01.380 peace and one more thing I would like 10:01.390 --> 10:04.789 to see uh investments . We are very 10:04.799 --> 10:07.960 ready to produce more of our own 10:08.049 --> 10:10.559 weapons right here in Ukraine . We are 10:10.570 --> 10:13.479 ready to work with you on joint 10:13.489 --> 10:15.840 production . This includes drones , 10:15.849 --> 10:18.030 missiles and other weapons that have 10:18.039 --> 10:20.599 proven themselves in combat and can 10:20.609 --> 10:23.250 strengthen your men and women in the 10:23.260 --> 10:26.119 defense forces after this war . To 10:26.130 --> 10:28.630 achieve this , we need funding . We are 10:28.640 --> 10:30.640 ready to quickly produce everything 10:30.640 --> 10:33.534 that will help bring this war to an end , 10:33.544 --> 10:36.914 namely by putting decisive pressure on 10:36.924 --> 10:39.674 Russia for real peace . Let's make this 10:39.684 --> 10:43.265 fall a time for Russian aggression to 10:43.275 --> 10:47.065 fall in a way that will end the war and 10:47.075 --> 10:49.994 restore a reliable international 10:50.005 --> 10:53.755 security . Order . We must do it again . 10:53.765 --> 10:55.604 Thank you very much for all your 10:55.614 --> 10:57.765 support . Thank you so much for the 10:57.775 --> 11:00.950 invitation . Secretary Slavo Green went 11:00.960 --> 11:04.239 along . Thank you . Thank you so much . 11:11.830 --> 11:14.309 Well , thank you Mr President . On 11:14.320 --> 11:16.789 behalf of everyone here , we hear your 11:16.799 --> 11:19.750 urgency and we share it , Mr President , 11:19.760 --> 11:21.909 this coalition of some 50 nations of 11:21.919 --> 11:25.169 goodwill stands united and firmed 11:25.760 --> 11:28.000 and today we will push even harder to 11:28.010 --> 11:31.080 step up our support for Ukraine . We're 11:31.090 --> 11:34.309 meeting at a dynamic moment . Ukraine 11:34.320 --> 11:36.590 continues to seize the initiative on 11:36.599 --> 11:39.320 the battlefield and Ukraine's troops 11:39.330 --> 11:41.274 are now conducting an operation in 11:41.274 --> 11:44.289 Russia's Kirk region . The Kremlin's 11:44.299 --> 11:46.250 army of aggression is now on the 11:46.260 --> 11:49.289 defensive on its own turf . 11:50.630 --> 11:52.789 But we know that Putin's malice runs 11:52.799 --> 11:56.429 deep . Moscow continues his offensive 11:56.440 --> 11:58.440 in the east of Ukraine , especially 11:58.440 --> 12:01.309 around Porus and Putin is repositioning 12:01.320 --> 12:04.380 his troops in Kirk and the Kremlin 12:04.390 --> 12:07.059 continues to bombard Ukraine's cities 12:07.469 --> 12:09.900 and to target Ukraine's civilians . 12:10.820 --> 12:14.650 That is an outrage but Ukraine 12:14.659 --> 12:17.989 refuses to bend and Russia has paid a 12:18.000 --> 12:20.599 massive cost for Putin's imperial 12:20.609 --> 12:24.260 fantasies . More than 350,000 12:24.270 --> 12:26.214 Russian troops have been killed or 12:26.214 --> 12:28.489 wounded since Putin launched his all 12:28.500 --> 12:32.479 out invasion . And since February 2022 12:32.809 --> 12:35.820 Ukrainian forces have sunk , destroyed 12:35.830 --> 12:39.489 or damaged 32 Russian naval 12:39.500 --> 12:42.619 vessels . Ukraine has driven all of 12:42.630 --> 12:44.809 Russia's major naval vessels out of 12:44.820 --> 12:48.820 Crimea and push Russia's Black Sea 12:48.830 --> 12:52.260 fleet further east last month , 12:52.270 --> 12:54.390 Ukraine sank one of three Russian 12:54.400 --> 12:57.359 ferries in the Kerch Strait in Russian 12:57.380 --> 13:00.809 occupied Crimea and that seriously 13:00.820 --> 13:02.840 reduced Russia's capacity to move 13:02.849 --> 13:06.809 equipment and troops into Ukraine . A 13:06.820 --> 13:08.950 second ferry has been out of action 13:08.960 --> 13:10.960 since Ukraine's attack earlier this 13:10.960 --> 13:14.390 summer . Additionally , Ukraine has 13:14.400 --> 13:18.219 destroyed 97 Russian combat aircraft 13:18.729 --> 13:20.840 since the start of Putin's full scale 13:20.840 --> 13:23.950 invasion . And so over and over , 13:23.960 --> 13:25.738 Ukraine has stood up to Putin's 13:25.738 --> 13:28.450 aggression and atrocities and this 13:28.460 --> 13:31.799 coalition has Ukraine's back 13:32.739 --> 13:34.906 and let me highlight some of the major 13:34.906 --> 13:37.183 recent steps forward in July , Germany , 13:37.183 --> 13:39.072 the Netherlands , Romania and the 13:39.072 --> 13:41.183 United States announced that we would 13:41.183 --> 13:43.017 provide more patriot air defense 13:43.017 --> 13:45.072 batteries and components . And Italy 13:45.072 --> 13:47.295 said that it would deliver another Samp 13:47.295 --> 13:49.630 T system . And Germany recently 13:49.640 --> 13:52.719 delivered another IST IRS T air defense 13:52.729 --> 13:55.679 system and more 155 millimeter 13:55.690 --> 13:58.669 ammunition in Germany , the Netherlands 13:58.679 --> 14:00.640 and Denmark have all provided more 14:00.650 --> 14:03.539 leopard battle tanks . And meanwhile , 14:03.549 --> 14:05.780 the European Union is using frozen 14:05.789 --> 14:09.650 Russian assets to farm to fund arms 14:09.659 --> 14:12.539 purchases for Ukraine including more 14:12.549 --> 14:15.159 ammunition from the check initiative to 14:15.169 --> 14:18.400 rush more shells to Ukraine . And since 14:18.409 --> 14:20.739 our meeting in June , the United States 14:20.750 --> 14:23.099 has committed more than $4 billion in 14:23.109 --> 14:25.220 new security assistance for Ukraine . 14:26.159 --> 14:28.500 We are laser focused on Ukraine's 14:28.510 --> 14:30.909 priority needs including air defense 14:30.919 --> 14:34.700 fires and armor . This contact group's 14:34.859 --> 14:37.770 in innovative and nimble capability . 14:37.780 --> 14:40.500 Coalitions continue to , to help 14:40.510 --> 14:42.510 Ukraine fend off Russian aggression 14:42.510 --> 14:45.219 today and deter Russian aggression 14:45.229 --> 14:48.380 tomorrow . And thanks to the work of 14:48.390 --> 14:51.260 the Air Force coalition , Ukraine has 14:51.270 --> 14:53.500 received its first tranche of F-16 14:53.510 --> 14:56.940 fighters and together with our national 14:56.950 --> 14:59.117 armaments directors , we are posturing 14:59.117 --> 15:01.283 our industrial bases to meet Ukraine's 15:01.283 --> 15:03.760 needs and sustain them long into the 15:03.770 --> 15:07.219 future . But for its long term security , 15:07.750 --> 15:09.979 Ukraine must continue to boost its own 15:09.989 --> 15:12.780 defense production and many contact 15:12.789 --> 15:14.845 group members are already supporting 15:14.845 --> 15:17.059 that effort . Just weeks ago , Denmark 15:17.159 --> 15:20.840 committed some of its latest $115 15:20.849 --> 15:23.489 million security assistance package to 15:23.500 --> 15:25.489 buying arms from Ukraine's defense 15:25.500 --> 15:27.909 industry . And meanwhile , with help 15:27.919 --> 15:30.250 from several European companies , the 15:30.260 --> 15:32.371 United States is working with Ukraine 15:32.371 --> 15:34.619 to design and build a substitute for 15:34.630 --> 15:37.419 the S3 100 surface to air missile 15:37.429 --> 15:40.950 system and the R 27 air to air missile . 15:41.809 --> 15:43.865 The United States has also allocated 15:43.865 --> 15:46.650 more than $200 million to purchase 15:46.659 --> 15:48.669 critical components to let Ukraine 15:48.679 --> 15:52.090 produce the UAVS and , and the electric 15:52.400 --> 15:55.130 electronic warfare systems that it has 15:55.140 --> 15:58.200 deployed so effectively , our national 15:58.210 --> 16:00.154 armaments directors are working in 16:00.154 --> 16:01.877 lockstep with the capability , 16:01.877 --> 16:03.849 coalitions to meet these needs and 16:03.859 --> 16:06.479 speed up deliveries . So I look forward 16:06.489 --> 16:08.322 to discussing ways to strengthen 16:08.322 --> 16:10.900 Ukraine's defense industrial base as 16:10.909 --> 16:14.409 well as our own and friends . This is a 16:14.419 --> 16:17.580 critical moment . Time is of the 16:17.590 --> 16:20.289 essence , especially with winter on its 16:20.299 --> 16:23.599 way and we must all step up our support 16:24.239 --> 16:27.070 and quickly . So I'm pleased to say 16:27.080 --> 16:29.024 that President Biden will announce 16:29.024 --> 16:31.840 today an additional $250 million 16:31.929 --> 16:35.080 security assistance package for Ukraine . 16:35.820 --> 16:38.042 It will surge more capabilities to meet 16:38.042 --> 16:40.429 Ukraine's evolving requirements and we 16:40.440 --> 16:42.662 will deliver them at the speed of war . 16:43.599 --> 16:45.432 Ladies and gentlemen , when this 16:45.432 --> 16:47.599 contact group met in April , President 16:47.599 --> 16:49.266 Zelensky reminded us all that 16:49.266 --> 16:51.130 aggression spreads when it isn't 16:51.140 --> 16:54.919 stopped . And he's right . If tyrants 16:54.929 --> 16:56.762 think that they can invade their 16:56.762 --> 16:58.762 peaceful neighbors , we will all be 16:58.762 --> 17:01.659 less secure . If autocrats conclude 17:01.669 --> 17:03.613 that nations of goodwill will lose 17:03.613 --> 17:06.229 their nerve , will lose our nerve and 17:06.239 --> 17:09.109 abandon our principles , our world will 17:09.119 --> 17:12.930 become far more dangerous . So make no 17:12.939 --> 17:16.880 mistake . If Ukraine is not free , the 17:16.890 --> 17:19.869 world is not safe . But this contact 17:19.880 --> 17:22.102 group gives us , gives us the structure 17:22.102 --> 17:24.269 to keep Ukraine sovereign and secure . 17:24.739 --> 17:27.798 The coalition is built to succeed and 17:27.808 --> 17:30.810 it's built to last President Biden has 17:30.819 --> 17:33.619 said Russia will not prevail in this 17:33.630 --> 17:36.430 conflict . The independent people of 17:36.439 --> 17:39.569 Ukraine will prevail and the United 17:39.579 --> 17:42.219 States and our allies and partners will 17:42.229 --> 17:45.099 continue to stand with them every step 17:45.109 --> 17:48.280 of the way . So , thanks for being here 17:48.849 --> 17:50.960 and with that , we'll pause while our 17:50.960 --> 17:53.182 friends in the media depart . Thank you 17:53.182 --> 17:55.939 very much . Thank you .