Minister Banožić and President Zelensky at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked everyone in attendance for their ongoing efforts in providing assistance to Ukrainian veterans
On the eve of the 600th day of the harsh and unjustified Russian Federation aggression on Ukraine, Minister of Defense Mario Banožić participated in the 16th regular meeting of the Defense Contact Group for Ukraine on 11 October 2023 in Brussels.
In his opening remarks, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III emphasised the significance of allies and partners continuing to support Ukraine and the urgency of getting vital military equipment to the front lines.
General Christopher Cavoli, Commander of EUCOM, and General Charles Q. Brown, the new Chief of the Joint Staff of the U.S. Armed Forces, highlighted the needs on the battlefield.
President Volodymyr Zelensky attended the meeting as well, and he expressed his gratitude to everyone present for their ongoing efforts in providing assistance to Ukrainian veterans.
“Thank you all for helping to save Ukraine and Ukrainians from Putin’s terror. Democracy can and must prevail in this conflict,” said President Zelensky.
Representatives of NATO and the European Union and ministers from the participating nations gave updates on recent donations to Ukraine and announced upcoming additional aid packages.
Croatian Defense Minister Mario Banožić addressed the participants and provided information regarding the donations of the Republic of Croatia to Ukraine. He also emphasized Croatia’s significant contribution to demining efforts, emphasizing the importance of the International Donor Conference on Demining in Ukraine that will be held in Zagreb on 11 and 12 October 2023.
“The conference will enable an overview of the challenges and needs of Ukraine in terms of demining. A unique coordinated international platform will be formed to collect financial resources for this purpose,” stated Minister Banožić.
As a reminder, Croatia has provided Ukraine with military aid totalling more than 181 million euros based on the decisions made by the Croatian Government. We are referring primarily to material support and equipment that bolstered and strengthened the capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Therefore, 256 million euros worth of military aid is going to Ukraine, which is a large donation. It demonstrates Croatia’s support for the Ukrainian people.
