For the first time since his hospitalization, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin took part in a meeting of the contact group to provide military-political assistance to Ukraine, according to the official Pentagon website. Austin participated in the conference via video link from home. The meeting was also attended by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umerov.
Austin called on Western countries not to be afraid of the challenges they face and to try in every possible way to prevent a major global conflict by restraining those “who would otherwise become aggressors.” The minister stressed that the United States and its allies support Kyiv in every possible way. At the same time, Austin noted that Ukraine uses the supplied weapons in accordance with agreements between Ukrainian allies in the West. According to the head of the Pentagon, Washington will continue to account for ammunition and weapons with a view to using these supplies in the Ukrainian conflict. This is necessary to understand how lawful and legal the expenditure of weapons is by Kiev.
Let us remind you that the US Secretary of Defense was hospitalized 3 weeks ago with suspected complications during a routine examination. Austin has prostate cancer, but his health does not prevent him from performing his duties as secretary, the Pentagon said. For now, the minister will work from home, and then gradually return to the working rhythm.
Earlier, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Sergei Ryabkov said that Moscow did not use the hotline for diplomatic contacts with Washington due to Austin’s illness. According to Ryabkov, this situation did not require emergency dialogue between the countries.
Source: Rosbalt
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