U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Ukrainian Secretary of Defense Oleksiy Reznikov discussed by phone issues related to the West's supply of artillery and air defense systems to Kyiv as priorities to be raised at a meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), the Pentagon said.

"Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III spoke by phone with Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov regarding priorities for next week's Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels, including air defense and artillery," the Pentagon said in the statement.

It notes the parties also stressed "the importance of delivering the capabilities pledged at last month's UDCG being delivered to the battlefield as quickly as possible."

Reznikov "provided an update of dynamics on the ground in Ukraine," the Pentagon said.