{"id":54754,"date":"2022-05-20T20:13:58","date_gmt":"2022-05-20T20:13:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2022\/05\/20\/more-nations-expected-sign-up-for-pentagons-ukraine-aid-group\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T00:04:36","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T00:04:36","slug":"more-nations-expected-sign-up-for-pentagons-ukraine-aid-group","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/2022\/05\/20\/more-nations-expected-sign-up-for-pentagons-ukraine-aid-group\/","title":{"rendered":"More nations expected to sign up for Pentagon\u2019s Ukraine aid group"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 A group of international defense chiefs convened by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin<\/a> to coordinate military aid for Ukraine is likely to expand when it meets for the second time on Monday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Ukraine Contact Group<\/a>, which included 40 member countries at the inaugural gathering at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on April 26, has since attracted more interest. U.S. defense officials declined to give a tally as the responses were still rolling in. The meeting will be held by video teleconference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere are some countries that have shown an interest in participating that weren\u2019t in the first meeting,\u201d Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said Friday. \u201cThere\u2019s not a cap on it, and we would love to have as many countries as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn its first iteration, you had countries from the Middle East, you had countries from the Indo-Pacific,\u201d he said. \u201cIt wasn\u2019t just Europe, and it certainly wasn\u2019t just NATO. There was a true global community there of countries that were interested in what\u2019s going on in Ukraine.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, co-organizer of the push, is expected to make an opening statement along with Austin and a Ukrainian delegate, according to a British official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. As of Friday, 18 countries were preparing announcements on providing new kit, the official said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The group\u2019s purpose is to address Ukraine\u2019s near- and long-term needs, Austin has said. High on the agenda Monday will be Kyiv\u2019s immediate requirements, as Ukrainian forces prepare for grinding combat in the country\u2019s east.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt\u2019s an important new way for nations of goodwill to intensify their efforts to help Ukraine better defend itself, both for today\u2019s urgent needs and for the long haul,\u201d Austin said in May 11 congressional testimony. \u201cOur most urgent goal continues to be sending the Ukrainians the capabilities they need most right now, as the war has shifted to the Donbass and to the south. The coming weeks will be critical.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t