US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin announced an increase in the number of countries that plan to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense system.

He said this on March 15 at the beginning of the Ramstein-10 meeting.

"In connection with the brutal Russian bombing, the number of countries providing air defense equipment also continues to increase," Austin noted.

According to him, in February, at a preliminary meeting in the "Ramstein" format, Italy and France announced that they would transfer the SAMP/T-Mamba anti-aircraft missile system to Ukraine.

"The United States, Germany and the Netherlands have committed to providing Patriot systems and many other countries have provided short-range air defense systems. Canada and Germany have provided medium-range air defense systems such as NASAMS and IRIS-T," Austin said.

It will be recalled that the head of the US Ministry of Defense, Lloyd Austin, also stated that the coalition of international partners, together with the US, which support Ukraine in its confrontation with the aggressors, are at a crucial moment in the struggle of Ukrainians for their freedom and democracy.

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