Pentagon Chief: Ukraine supported by over 40 countries, Russia depends on Iran, North Korea

BRUSSELS. March 16 (Interfax-Ukraine) – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Russia, which is depleting its stocks in the war it unleashed against Ukraine, depends on Iran and North Korea for arms supplies, while more than forty countries support Ukraine with the necessary supplies.

” Brave Ukrainians stood firm during Russia’s ground invasion with the help of their new antitank and antiaircraft missiles which Contact Group countries have provided, and Russia’s – Russia hopes to grind down Ukraine in a war of attrition. But Ukraine has been supplied by more than 40 countries. And meanwhile, Russia has had to depend on Iran and North Korea, and has had to use equipment dating back to World War II. So Russia is running out of capability and running out of friends. Putin has now had a year’s-worth of proof that the United States and the Contact Group will support Ukraine’s right to defend itself for the long haul,” Austin said at a press conference on Wednesday, which took place after the meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

In turn, Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley said “Russia remains isolated. Their military stocks are rapidly depleting. Their soldiers are demoralized, untrained, unmotivated conscripts and convicts, and their leadership is failing them.” ” Having already failed in their strategic objectives, Russia is increasingly relying on other countries, such as Iran and North Korea, as the Secretary pointed out. They’re using Iranian drones to continue to terrorize Ukrainian civilians,” he said.

Milley said the battle for Bakhmut continues, and with the strong defense of Ukraine, ” The battle of Bakhmut continues but Ukraine is fighting with valor. With robust defenses, Ukraine has fixed the Russian forces at that city and they’re exacting very heavy costs on the Wagner Group and the Russian regular military.” “Russia continues to pay severely in terms of lives and military equipment for its continued war of choice. Right now, there is intense fighting in and around Bakhmut and the Russians are making small tactical advances but at great cost. Elsewhere, the front line remains relatively static, with significant exchanges of artillery but no significant maneuver gains by either side. Russian forces are conducting mindless frontal attacks and sacrificing hundreds per day. The political objectives that Putin intended to achieve 384 days ago are obvious to the world, and it should be obvious to Putin that these objectives are no longer achievable by continuing this war and Putin can end this war and he can end it today and he needs to do so. Free people are not easily conquered and the Ukrainian people are free and they will never give up in their fight to stay free,” the general said.

According to Austin, representatives of more than 50 states of goodwill from around the world have gathered for today’s meeting. “They all understand that Ukraine’s battle to defend itself from Russian aggression is vital for everyone who values the core principles of sovereignty, self-determination and freedom,” he said.

The Pentagon Chief also said Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, who also took part in the meeting, provided “a clear message for the next steps in Ukraine’s resistance,” noting the urgency of the support provided. ” Ukraine doesn’t have any time to waste, and I heard clearly today that our fellow Contact Group members also know that we have to deliver swiftly and fully on our promised commitments, and that includes delivering our armored capabilities to the battlefield and ensuring that Ukrainian soldiers get the training, spare parts and maintenance support that they need to use these new systems as soon as possible. And we’ll continue to dig deep for new donations, and today, we heard updates on our progress and some significant new commitments,” Austin said.