Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Rustem Umerov today regarding battlefield dynamics and security assistance. The leaders discussed the outcomes of President Biden's recent meeting with President Zelenskyy in the United States and the upcoming Ramstein Summit of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting that President Biden will host at the leader level. Secretary Austin affirmed President Biden's commitment to surge security assistance support to Ukraine and reiterated that the United States, together with more than 50 Allies and partners, will continue to provide Ukraine the support it needs to defend its freedom and sovereign territory.

The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact.