US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin opened a regular meeting of allies in the Ramstein format on Friday, calling on them to provide more assistance for Ukraine. 

"This is a crucial moment. Russia is regrouping, recruiting and trying to re-equip [its forces]. This is not a moment to slow down. It's time to dig deeper. The Ukrainian people are watching us. The Kremlin is watching us. And history is watching us. So we won't let up. And we won't waver in our determination to help Ukraine defend itself from Russia's imperial aggression," CNN quotes Austin's speech.

Russia remains committed to aggression and conquest, he said, and Russian forces have stepped up their horrific attacks, killing many innocent Ukrainians. 

"We saw the cruelty of Russia's war choice again just a few days ago in the city of Dnipro," he said.

Austin added that "this is a decisive moment for Ukraine in a decisive decade for the world, so make no mistake we will support Ukraine's self-defence for as long as it takes."

He said that Russia's attacks are designed to break the spirit of Ukraine. But they have failed. And the people of Ukraine have inspired the world.

On Thursday, the United States announced the allocation of an additional 2.5 billion to Ukraineʼs military assistance. The package will include more armoured vehicles and ammunition.

But the main focus of the Ramstein meeting is on whether Germany will send Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine or at least agree on their transfer from third countries.