#udcg

“2025 is the critical year for this war. Now is the critical moment... for defense industries, militaries and governments to step up.” ~ British Defense Secretary, John Healey 🇺🇦💙💛🇪🇺

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost_ . . . NATO allies committed more than 21 billion euros ($23.8 billion) in long-term military aid to Ukraine during the April 11 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), British Defense Secretary John Healey said.

“This is record support in military aid to Ukraine,” Healey said.

The Ramstein-format meeting in Brussels comes amid growing uncertainty over U.S. support for Ukraine and efforts by European allies to close the gap as Kyiv resists Russia’s ongoing invasion.

“2025 is the critical year for this war,” Healey said. “Now is the critical moment... for defense industries, militaries and governments to step up.”

The defense secretary stressed that the pledges were not only about firepower but about sending a clear message: “We stand with you in the fight and in the peace.”

Read the full story at the link in bio.

Photo: Omar Havana / Getty Images

While Russia continues to launch deadly missile attacks on Ukraine, and partner countries scramble to boost Ukraine’s defense capabilities, $60 billion in aid from the U.S. remains blocked by Republicans in the House of Representatives of the U.S. Congress. 🇺🇦💙💛🇺🇦

#Repost @kyivindependent_official with @use.repost . . . U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin opened the 20th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) held in Ramstein, Germany, on March 19.

The meeting comes at a precarious time for Ukraine and its allies, as Russia ramps up pressure along the front and $60 billion in aid from the U.S., a key military donor, remains stalled by disputes in Congress.

In his opening words, Austin thanked German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius for hosting the event and Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov for attending in person.

“Russia has paid a staggering cost for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin’s imperial dreams. At least 315,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since Putin’s all-out invasion in February 2022,” Austin said.

“Russia has squandered up to $211 billion to equip, deploy, maintain, and sustain its imperial aggression against Ukraine.”

According to the U.S. defense chief, the war will cost Russia $1.3 trillion dollars in anticipated economic growth through 2026. Austin noted that Ukraine continues to degrade Russia’s military capabilities, destroying or damaging 20 military vessels and a number of warplanes.

"The United States will not let Ukraine fail. This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, and the free world will not let Ukraine fail," Austin pledged.

The defense secretary reminded that Washington has recently announced a defense aid package of $300 million, financed through unanticipated contract savings. A much larger aid bill remains blocked, however, largely due to opposition by parts of the Republican Party and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

"We remain determined to provide Ukraine with the resources it needs to resist the Kremlin's aggression," Austin said, pointing out recent initiatives and defense aid packages from countries like Czechia, Sweden, Germany, Denmark, or France.

The UDCG comprises over 50 countries, including all 32 NATO members, and has been meeting regularly since April 2022 to coordinate military support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

The previous meeting was held in a hybrid format on Feb. 14.

Photo: Thomas Niedermueller/Getty Images

Tonight was my senior run through in marching band.

I started out as a freshmen on prop line aka the back sideline for half of the show. Now I barely get a break in the show & that's just the way I want it. I have legitamately put my heart and soul into this activity and senior run though could not have turned out more perfect if I tried.

For the record senior run through is when only the seniors of the band play the whole show. Bianca unfortunately couldn't make it, she's new this year but just hurt her back today and is resting for championships saturday. So me, tori, and courtney did the show as the only guard girls. Tori & I have been in this together since the beginning & that run was ijfdlkjsihfadj <3

I was sick and utterly exhausted, my headband fell out of my bag and got broken (it's my mom's btw & if she finds out I'm dead), and I dropped a toss I usually never do during ensemble so I was really scared about how the run was going to go, especially cause we had just done a full run before that.

But, it was perfect <3 I didn't even try to be angry too much & I know I could have performed better if my body wasn't running on empty, but I didn't have to try. It just all came naturally and I smiled, fuck it, it's my senior run, it was one of the most fun & emotional things I've ever done & I smiled damnit! XD How could I not after all with the sound of the whole band, techs, and everyone screaming, cheering, and applauding for us!?

On top of that! Tori, Courtney, & I changed the double rifle work cause all our partners were underclassmen and instead during the 24 counts we tossed the rifles to each other until we got our own back. It worked perfect and I think the crowd really liked it!

Oh! BTW! This was the first year our band director invited people, so family, friends, & alumni all came out to see it!

Afterwards our band director thanked us for bringing back senior run to what it should be and said that after watching us he would never doubt our abilities. Let me tell you how I was fighting to hold back tears hiding behind my silks & poles. And when he called us to attention, right before, he said "make it the best one yet" and you best believe I did. I was so choked up I couldn't even scream "ROYALS!". It just kinda popped out in a little squeal.

After dismissal Emily came and hugged me from behind while I was hugging someone else & goes "now can I get a real hug?!" with this big smile on her face & we hugged and she asked me if I heard her and how she screamed my name a couple times. I don't know why but that just meant alot to me. Me & that girl have been through alot & I know damn well I'm a better spinner because of her & I will greatly miss spinning with her<3

Btw! Before Practice! Our one tech who's been helping this season, Danielle, gave us little presents: a poem which I shall post & a hand painted black wooden picture fram that says UDCG in silver and Room 237 in red. She says we just have to get a group picture saturday at championships and she will print them out nicely for us to put in XD

Words cannot express the pure, raw emotion I'm feeling right now. When you find something you love as much as I love band and have come to connect with so many people in it, there's nothing wrong with crying when it's almost over.

The Upper Darby Marching Royals 2011 seniors in Room 237:

Amy Sides

Anire Bowman

Bianca Bonner

Courtney Brown

Craig Howard

Drew Collins

Janeca Latore

Jeremy Simon

Jess Lu

Jimmy Madden

Kailyn Carroll

Kathy Dougherty

Kiet Huynh

Mark Zeits

Tori Ward

Tyler Martin

and very luckily, me, Avonlea Bond

I'll forever remember this year as my favorite year. We've grown so much and nothing will ever be able to compare to what I've experienced. Thank each and every one of you for being apart of my life in this way. I could never repay you <3

had such an amazing run last night I can't even begin to tell you, you just have to watch (:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywnm1Obc1YY

there were only 3 very small mess ups and as soon as I watched the video I jsut got so excited for practice tomorrow, the first thought that ran through my head was "Ok, now how do we make this better? How can we scare the ever living FUCK out of the judges?" So we got a 91.5, first place, grand champions, and took all the captions. Sure it's calvalcades but calvalcades is actually pretty good this year I'm impressed. Unfortunately there's only going to be one other band in our division at states, ussba.

Well the point is last night made me super happy, it was my mom's birthday and I performed extra for her especially since I had no energy from the 4 hours of sleep I got from staying on her present for 3.5 hours since we had an away game the night before. I was legitamately yawning as we were standing on the goal line to go on.