US Secretary of Defense: Ukraine will be helped to launch counterattack in spring

The United States and its allies will support Ukraine's fight for freedom over the long haul - and help Ukraine hold and advance during the spring counter-offensive, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said at the Ninth Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Report informs, citing the US Department of Defence.

According to him, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands are working together to provide Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine:

"France and Italy are working to provide a SAMP/T air-defense system. And a consortium of countries - including Germany, Poland, Canada, Portugal, Spain, Norway, Denmark, and the Netherlands—are working together to provide Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine.

"For more armored power, the United States, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands are jointly providing more than 90 T-72 tanks. This is in addition to Poland's latest donation of T-72s."