Washington said it would hold similar talks on a roughly monthly basis with allies inside and outside NATO. Germany announced a major shift in policy at the event, saying it would send tanks to the country.
The US hosted dozens of countries at the Ramstein US air base in western Germany on Tuesday for a conference on bolstering Ukraine's defense capabilities as it battles Russia's invasion.
The conference secured pledges from allies to sustain aid to Ukraine's military throughout this next phase of the war — and beyond. The meeting saw a major pledge from Germany, who said it would deliver tanks to Ukraine in a radical switch in policy on the supply of military equipment to the country.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said, "We do want to make it harder for Russia to threaten its neighbors and make it less able to do that."
Austin added the conference would transform into a monthly contact group on Ukraine's self-defense.
What is the goal of the conference?
The aim is to secure Ukraine's long-term security and sovereignty in terms of how it will defend itself after the war. The US has invited defense ministers and representatives from 40 countries to participate — with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg also in attendance.
As he opened the talks, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the conference sought "to help Ukraine win the fight against Russia's unjust invasion and to build up Ukraine's defenses for tomorrow's challenges."
"As we see this morning, nations from around the world stand united in our resolve to support Ukraine in its fight against Russia's imperial aggression," Austin said.
He said Kyiv's allies will "keep moving heaven and Earth" to bolster Ukraine's defense.
"Ukraine clearly believes that it can win and so does everyone here," he added.
The event is not being held under NATO auspices, with countries outside the alliance also invited.
Austin and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kyiv on Sunday, where they met President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. At the meeting, they agreed to provide Ukraine with additional military assistance.
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