International Call for Support: Strengthening Ukraine's Air Defense Systems

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin called on allied defense leaders to provide more air defense systems for Ukraine to counter increasing missile attacks from Russia. While commitments on longer-range missiles remain elusive, Austin emphasized the importance of ground-based air defense systems and interceptors in saving lives. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, consisting of defense and military leaders from over 50 nations, met to discuss contributions of weapons, equipment, and training for Ukraine's war effort. The U.S. has expressed concerns about Ukraine using longer-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory. Meanwhile, the promised M1 Abrams tanks are set to arrive in Ukraine soon. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will visit Washington, D.C., to seek continued American support, as there is a growing partisan divide in Congress over Ukraine funding.