Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defense Rustem UmerovContracts for Nov. 12, 2024Secretary of Defense Travel to Australia,[...]

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 to discuss battlefield dynamics and provide an update on U.S. security assistance support for Ukraine. The leaders discussed the entry of North Korean soldiers into combat against Ukraine, which presents a significant Russian escalation in its unprovoked war of aggression against Ukraine. Secretary Austin reaffirmed President Biden's commitment to surge security assistance to Ukraine and provided an update on the unprecedented scope and pace of U.S. efforts to provide Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to fight Russian aggression.

The two leaders pledged to remain in close contact.