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US holds a Ukraine war conference at Ramstein airbase in Germany
The Anews reported, citing DPA, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has invited around 40 countries to participate in a conference on the war in Ukraine being held on Tuesday (Apr 26) at the Ramstein U.S. airbase in Germany.
The aim of the conference is to secure Ukraine's long-term security and sovereignty. It is expected to focus on the country's defence needs in the period following the war.
The U.S. Department of Defense has made clear that the conference is not being held under NATO auspices, and countries that are not members of the alliance are reportedly among those invited.
In the run up to the conference, Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kiev, where they met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday and agreed to provide Ukraine with additional military assistance.
They were also provided with important information on Ukraine's defence requirements, the details of which are due to be discussed with the U.S.' partners and allies attending the conference.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the US secretaries of state and defence on Sunday night in what was the highest-level visit to the country’s capital by an American delegation since the start of the war.
President Zelensky meets face-to-face with Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin
The secretive meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin came as Ukraine pressed the West for more powerful weapons and as Russia continued its campaign in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow’s forces are seeking to dislodge the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port of Mariupol.
levantnews, anews
