Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg

05/20/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 05/21/2024 03:50

Yuriko Backes at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group

On 20 May 2024, Minister of Defence Yuriko Backes took part in the virtual meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), at the invitation of US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.

Following a briefing on the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine and Ukraine's most urgent capability needs, the leaders of the capability coalitions briefed the UDCG on progress and the Ministers of Defence provided an update on their recent national contributions to Ukraine.

In her speech, Yuriko Backes outlined the progress of the IT Coalition, including the recent delivery of the first order of ICT equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and announced that further orders worth €5.2 million have been placed and will be delivered shortly. To date, twelve nations have joined the IT Coalition and one nation has begun the process of joining. "We encourage all nations to join the IT Coalition and support the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the cyber domain," emphasised Yuriko Backes.

The UDCG currently brings together some 50 countries, including the 32 NATO Allies and other countries supporting Ukraine in exercising its right to self-defence against the Russian aggressor. To date, UDCG countries have provided Ukraine with military assistance worth a total of 95 billion dollars.

Press release by the Directorate of Defence