On Friday, December 20, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had a telephone conversation with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius. The parties discussed the support to Ukraine and the upcoming meeting in Ramstein format.
“Lloyd Austin spoke by phone today with his German counterpart… Boris Pistorius to discuss continued support for Ukraine and the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group scheduled for January,” the report said.
Pentagon press secretary Pat Ryder added that Secretary Austin expressed his appreciation for Minister Pistorius’ leadership and Germany’s significant ongoing security assistance to Ukraine.
Ryder clarified that the conversation took place in the morning, before the events in Magdeburg. We are talking about a German city where yesterday a car drove into a crowd at a Christmas market, resulting in many injuries.
“Our hearts go out to the people of Germany in connection with this tragedy,” the Pentagon press secretary concluded.
