Nearly 50 world defense leaders met Monday to agree to send more advanced weapons, including a missile launcher and harpoon launcher, to Ukraine, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said to reporters.
General Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that a low-level discussion was underway about how the U.S. might need to adjust its training of Ukrainian troops and whether U.S. troops should remain in Ukraine.
The U.S. pulled its few remaining troops from Ukraine prior to the war and does not plan on sending in combat forces. Milley's remarks left the possibility that troops could be returned to embassy security or for another non-combat purpose.
The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv is partially open and staffing up again. There have been questions as to whether or not the U.S. will send back a Marine security force to protect the embassy, or if there are other options.
Milley responded to a question about whether U.S. special operation forces might enter Ukraine. Officials have denied that they have. We are still a long way from something like that.
Austin refused to answer Pentagon reporters if the U.S. would send Ukraine high-tech mobile missile launchers. This was something it requested. Austin stated that around 20 countries announced Monday they would send additional security assistance to Ukraine as the war with Russia has reached three months.
He said in particular that Denmark had agreed to send missiles and a harpoon launcher to Ukraine to assist it with its defense. Russia has vessels in the Black Sea, and they have used them to launch missiles into Ukraine. All commercial ships entering Ukraine ports have been stopped by the Russian vessels.
Austin said to reporters after the conclusion of the virtual meeting with defense leaders that they had gained a better, more shared understanding of Ukraine's priorities and the current situation on the battlefield. "Many countries have donated critical artillery ammunition, coastal defense system and tanks as well as other armored vehicles. Others offered new training commitments.
