Good day everyone. Thanks for working across time zones to join us for the 18th meeting of the Ukraine Defense group. We are eager to enter this new year with new energy and we are all here to reaffirm our support for a free, secure and sovereign ukraine. And to ensure we continue to give ukraine the capability it needs for the winter and beyond. Ukraine is not alone. Around the world ukraine france has stepped up to help ukraines brave troops resist putins aggression. D a historic International Coalition rooted in shared interest in common principles. The United States remains determined to support ukraine its fight for freedom im especially glad we are joined today by my friend ukrainian defenseman minister we look forward to hearing your report from the battlefield. Ukraines fight is important for all of our countries. Ukraines incredibly brave troops are could turn their battle against the kremlin invaders against a vast frontline ukraines east and south in a bitter winter weather. Ukraines defenders continue to inflict significant losses on the kremlins forces. Putin continues to sacrifice staggering numbers of Russian Troops in its rash and reckless war of choice putin hopes missiles and drones will demoralize ukrainian people break the fighting spilt spirit of Ukrainian Military i urge this group to dig deep to provide ukraine with more lifesaving Defense Systems and interceptors ukraine has answered putins cruelty with courage and defiance. After almost two years of war ukraines people in troops stand strong against russian aggression and occupation. Russias military had been badly weakened and demoralize. Russias military continued to make a significant sacrifice ukraine has taken back more than half of the sovereign territory grabbed by russia this is unprovoked invasion. So lets be clear our support for ukraines struggle against tear and it makes all of our countries more secure. If we lose our nerve, if we flinch, if we fail to deter other wouldbe aggressors we will only invite even more bloodshed and more chaos so a sovereign insecure ukraine is critical to global security. We must not waver and our support for ukraine. On december 27 United States announced an additional 250 Million Dollar package to help me ukraines urgent security needs. The package includes a lifesaving air defense musicians, air Defense System components, ammunition for hi mars, anti armored munitions, 155millimeter 105millimeter ammunition and medical equipment. The United States continues to work hard to monitor and account for u. S. Security assistance delivered ukraine. We have seen no credible evidence of the misuse or illicit diversion of america equipment provided to ukraine. But what we do see is ukraine using the capabilities that we have provided to defend itself against russian aggression. Now, i want to take a few minutes to commend the allies and partners have risen to the moment i announce important new longterm Security Assistance packages since we last met. This includes significant announcements by his dystonia, germany, latvia, with the way neah, the netherlands, norway, sweden, and the united kingdom. Taken together these commitments will announce the billions of dollars in additional military aid for ukraine. We must continue to focus on ukraines immediate battlefield needs and on helping ukraine to strengthen modernize and sustain his Defense Forces for the long haul. Thats why the United States hosted the Industrial Base conference last month with the goal of ushering in a new era of cooperation to meet ukraines longterm security needs. We remain committed to strengthening ukraines defense Industrial Base to intensify ukraines current fight and to boost his longterm deterrence. Our allies and partners are working proudly beside us and members of this group have shown a profound principled commitment to ukraines enduring security. Im especially grateful to our allies and partners for your commitment to leading this groups Capability Coalitions. That includes in denmark, estonia, france, germany, with the weighty, luxembourg, the netherlands, norway, and the united kingdom. Together our allies and partners have established six Capability Coalitions to support ukraines air force ground based air defenses, artillery, maritime security, information technology. We have made impressive progress since our last meeting. Im proud of the United States is co leading the Capability Coalition along with france and also co leading the air force Capability Coalition alongside denmark and the netherlands. That is just another reminder of how much we can do when we come together. The security of the entire International Community is on the line in ukraines fight i am more determined than ever to work with our allies and partners to support ukraine and to get the job done. So thanks for joining us i will pass it back to assistant secretary we