U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Wednesday (October 15) the United States and its allies would take the steps necessary to "impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression" if the war in Ukraine does not come to an end.

"If we must take this step, the U.S. War Department stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do," Hegseth said at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group of Kyiv's allies at NATO headquarters.

Hegseth also urged allies to ramp up investment in the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) program, which replaced U.S. arms donations to Ukraine and now requires allies to pay for U.S. weapons deliveries.

Ukraine will need between $12 billion and $20 billion worth of military aid next year as part of a new NATO initiative to purchase U.S. weapons, Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

Speaking at a defence meeting, he added that Ukraine is capable of producing 10 million drones in 2026 with sufficient financing from allies, but that it also needs more long-range artillery shells as it fights Russian forces.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM (OCTOBER 15, 2024) (NATO - Access All)

1. NATO MEETING ROOM

2. U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY PETE HEGSETH AND U.S. AMBASSADOR TO NATO MATTHEW WHITAKER CHATTING

3. HEGSETH, WHITAKER AND FINLAND DEFENCE MINISTER ANTTI HAKKANEN SPEAKING

4. HEGSETH AND UK SECRETARY OF STATE FOR DEFENCE JOHN HEALEY SPEAKING

5. NATO SECRETARY GENERAL, MARK RUTTE, GREETING OFFICIALS

6. HEGSETH, HEALEY, UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER DENYS SHMYHAL, GERMAN DEFENSE MINISTER BORIS PISTORIUS AND RUTTE, SITTING

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN DEFENCE MINISTER, BORIS PISTORIUS, SAYING:

"We will continue and expand our support for Ukraine. With new contracts, Germany will provide additional support amounting to over 2 billion euros. This will include a package totalling 500 million U.S. dollars. The package addresses a number of urgent requirements of Ukraine. It provides air defence systems, Patriot interceptors, radar systems, and precision-guided artillery rockets and ammunition."

8. WHITE FLASH

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH, SAYING:

"All countries need to translate goals into guns, commitments into capabilities, and pledges into power. That's all that matters. Hard power. It's the only thing belligerents actually respect. Your continued investment in leadership is vital to helping Ukraine defend itself and to bring an end to this conflict. Peace through strength."

10. WHITE FLASH

11. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH, SAYING:

"Now, if this war does not end, if there is no path to peace in the short term, then the United States, along with our allies, will take the steps necessary to impose costs on Russia for its continued aggression. If we must take this step, the U.S. War Department stands ready to do our part in ways that only the United States can do."

12. WHITE FLASH

13. (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. DEFENSE SECRETARY, PETE HEGSETH, SAYING:

"This is not a war that started on (U.S.) President Trump's watch, but it will end on his watch. So let us seize this moment, strongly forge peace in Ukraine, and let's bring peace through strength."

14. WHITE FLASH

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UKRAINIAN DEFENCE MINISTER, DENYS SHMYHAL, SAYING:

"Funding needs under the PURL (Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List) next year will reach $12 to $20 billion. If needed, we are ready to discuss coordination of this project. The next priority is Ukrainian-made drones and missiles. We need more FPV, ISR, and other drones to hold the frontline. We continue to emphasise an urgent funding need of $4 billion. In 2026, we will be able to build up to 10 million drones. If partners commit the necessary funding."

16. HEGSETH, HEALEY, SHMYHAL, PISTORIUS AND RUTTE SITTING