BRUSSELS, March 16 – U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said Russia, which is depleting its stocks in the war it unleashed against Ukraine, depends on Iran and North Korea for arms supplies, while more than forty countries support Ukraine with the necessary supplies.

"Brave Ukrainians stood firm during Russia's ground invasion with the help of their new antitank and antiaircraft missiles which Contact Group countries have provided, and Russia's – Russia hopes to grind down Ukraine in a war of attrition. But Ukraine has been supplied by more than 40 countries. And meanwhile, Russia has had to depend on Iran and North Korea, and has had to use equipment dating back to World War II. So Russia is running out of capability and running out of friends," Austin said at a press conference on Wednesday, which took place after the meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group.