Ukraine's most urgent security needs to be discussed next week - Pentagon

The ninth session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will focus on a substantive discussion of the urgent needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces ahead of the one-year anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine.

U.S. Defense Department Spokesperson Brigadier General Pat Ryder said this at a briefing on Wednesday, February 8, according to an Ukrinform correspondent.

"The discussion next week [in the Ramstein format] very much will focus on Ukraine's most urgent security needs, particularly as we approach the one year anniversary of Russia's illegal invasion of Ukraine," Ryder said.

He added that is it going to be "a very substantive discussion," an opportunity to review progress made but also what needs to be done to assist Ukraine in the future.

At the same time, Ryder said that he had nothing to announce regarding the possible supply of U.S. fighter jets to Ukraine. However, according to him, the United States is going to continue to consult closely with the Ukrainians, international allies and partners to determine what Ukraine's most urgent security needs are.

"We're going to work very hard with our allies and partners to provide them with that capability so that they can be successful on the battlefield," Ryder said.

The ninth session of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group is scheduled for Tuesday, February 14.