Putin chose war. But Ukraine decided to defend itself. Your courage inspires the entire civilized world
--- Pleased to see you all at the sixth meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine. Today, we are united by a common goal - to help Ukraine protect our sovereignty, our territory and our people from an unjust and unjustified attack of Russia. The whole world has seen again how aggressively and cruelly warming Vladimir Putin, deeply despite the rules of war.
The consequences of shelling of Ukrainian cities by Russian troops in recent days are the killings and injuries of innocent civilians, the destruction of goals that had nothing to do with the army. But these attacks of Russia only intensified the determination of the Ukrainian people and even more united the countries of goodwill from all over the land. So we were gathered again to support Ukraine's inseparable right to defense. And our determination and stability in this matter only grow.
Now everyone understands how this war has begun. According to US President Joe Biden, "no one threatened Russia, and no one but Russia sought conflict. " Putin chose war. But Ukraine decided to defend itself and showed great results. Putin suggested that Russia has enough capacity to quickly conquer Ukraine. He suggested that he could take Kyiv without much obstacles.
He suggested that Ukraine would never be able to commit a counter -offensive to bring back its sovereign and occupied territory in the Kharkiv region and beyond. He suggested that the world would only see how it would try to annex four more regions of Ukraine. And he suggested that we would not join forces and would not resist his imperial war. Now we see how wrong its assumptions were. Just look at the field of today's battle, look around like a lot in this room.
Now Putin is trying to mobilize more strength and demands to recognize the sovereign territory of Ukraine. He attacks civilian goals and infrastructure in cities of Ukraine, uses irresponsible threats and rhetoric. But we remain single in achieving our goal, focused and decisive. The free peoples understood the fictitiousness of Russia's attempt to annex Ukrainian lands.
Countries around the world do not agree to see the world in Putin's paradigm, where the great powers can by force of trampling borders. The population of Europe and far beyond its boundaries, the international order based on the rules, which provides security for our countries. A collective desire to strengthen our common safety is something that unites this contact group.
Governments of the world of the world help the Ukrainian military and financial equipment, and the weapons they need to protect their country and their citizens. The result is daily very noticeable changes in the battlefield. Since our last meeting in September, we have all observed how Ukraine has achieved extraordinary success on the battlefield. And despite the new storms of the Putin troops, the Ukrainian forces changed the dynamics of this war.
They freed hundreds of cities from the Russian occupation, returned thousands of square kilometers of their land. These victories belong to Ukrainian soldiers. But the assistance of the contact group in the field of safety, training and support were vital. We worked side by side. This is a common progress. As the course of the war changed, the mission of this contact group has changed. When we met last month, the contact group pledged to maintain Ukraine's self -defense for the long term. We do this.
Because our support of Ukraine's right to self -defense does not depend on the result of a particular battle. We will strongly support the defenders of Ukraine so that it does not happen. Therefore, this contact group is the only one in its own purpose and decisive to achieve it. We will continue to increase Ukraine's defense capability - for the urgent needs of today and for a long run.
The members of this group provided military assistance to Ukraine for billions of dollars, as well as humanitarian and financial assistance. We also increase investments in our industrial production to meet both Ukraine's defense needs and our own. And my government is deeply dedicated to the help of Ukraine in defense against Russian aggression. Two weeks ago, the United States announced to provide Ukraine with a regular security package of $ 1.
1 billion under our initiative to promote Ukraine's security. It included 18 additional Himars and missiles, as well as hundreds of vehicles, dozens of radars, and unmanned aerial vehicles. We will produce and deliver these highly efficient military agents over the following months (and in some cases), despite the fact that we continue to meet the most acute requirements for Ukraine's self -defense.
It was only last week that Joe Biden approved the 22nd US Reserve to provide even more basic systems as soon as possible that helped Ukraine succeed in the battlefield. The package includes four more HIMARS, 16 howitzers M777, 75,000 shells of 155 mm caliber. I am proud that, under the leadership of Baiden President, US assistance to Ukraine has reached approximately $ 16. 8 billion since the full -scale invasion of Russia on February 24.
Our coordinated team approach helps to strengthen the brave defenders of Ukraine for the long term. This means that we need to increase the opportunity to help Ukraine right now. It is more active in conducting programs for military training of Ukraine. And this means to develop the innovative base of our industry, as we provide Ukraine with tools that it will need later. Last month, we talked about the unification of our national arms directors.
And I am glad that their first meeting was a successful and important step towards solving the problems of the industrial base we face. So I look forward to continuing our work on our long -term investments - with a review for improving production, compatibility and support potential. Now I am very pleased that the brave generals of Ukraine joined us again. Allow me to thank my dear friend, Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov, for his outstanding leadership.
Also allow the Major General, Commander of the United Forces of Ukraine Eduard Moskalov. We are very grateful for being here today with us. And we know how much the people of Ukraine have suffered in the vain Russia's war. We watched Putin trying to force unobtrusive Russian civilians who are suspected to go to the forefront.
And we saw a sharp contrast with Ukraine, which showed the world that the military and moral power of the free people, which fights for its democracy and its sovereignty, prevails in all contexts. This courage inspires all of us. And I am also inspired by close coordination and cooperation between goodwill nations that contributed to such progress on the battlefield. And I am also inspired by the determination of leaders in this hall to support Ukraine in its struggle for freedom.