International support for Ukraine is still “strong and true” more than a year after Kyiv’s war against invading Russian soldiers. US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Friday.

“Our support for the forces of freedom in Ukraine remains strong and true”, - Austin told a gathering of dozens of Kyiv supporters at Germany’s Ramstein air base.

The Ukraine Defence Contact Group conference “will focus on three key issues. Air defence, ammunition, and enablers”, he said, referring to logistics and other support that allows armed forces to function.

Contact group members have donated more than USD 55 billion in security assistance to Ukraine. With the United States providing more than USD 35 billion.

“We reject Putin’s bleak vision of a world in which tyrants are free to attack their peaceful neighbours. Together, we will ensure that Ukraine has everything it needs to live in freedom”, - he said.