Department of Defense Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Anton T. Semelroth provided the following readout:
Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov to reaffirm the enduring commitment of the United States and our Allies and partners to strengthen Ukraine's capacity to counter Russian aggression, as demonstrated at the NATO Madrid Summit. Secretary Austin condemned the Russian missile strike on a crowded Ukrainian shopping mall and offered his condolences for the civilians killed as a result of Russia's most recent atrocity.
Secretary Austin provided an update on U.S. security assistance efforts and exchanged perspectives with Minister Reznikov on its impact on the battlefield. The leaders also discussed plans for the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group to be held virtually in July.
The leaders pledged to remain in close contact.
