40 Countries to Attend Contact Group Meeting over Ukraine Crisis

Around 40 countries will come together to discuss Ukraine and its fight against Russian invaders. U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced on Friday.

Before the virtual meeting, Austin will speak with Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, "to discuss Ukraine's military requirements," Pentagon Press Secretary John Kirby said.

"The contact group meeting will include over 40 countries," Kirby added. These are all countries that provide security assistance to Ukraine and they will discuss what Ukraine will need in the future.

"There are some countries that have shown an interest in participating that weren't in the first meeting," he said. "We would love to have as many … countries participate as possible."

 "It wasn't just Europe, and it certainly wasn't just NATO. There was a true global community there of countries that were interested in what's going on in Ukraine. And more than that, as the Secretary said very eloquently, you wouldn't have been there if you didn't care about Ukraine and care about helping Ukraine."

At Ramstein, every member of the contact group came with ideas and ways to help Ukraine. "The secretary said he wants to have one (meeting) every month," Kirby said.