U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that some 20 countries had announced new security assistance packages for Ukraine during a virtual meeting with allies on Monday.

The countries include Italy, Denmark, Greece, Norway and Poland.

Austin pointed out that Denmark would provide a harpoon launcher and missiles to defend Ukraine's coast.

The top U.S. military officer, General Mark Milley, told the same press conference that the U.S. was still "a ways away" from any reintroduction of U.S. forces into Ukraine.

(with inputs from Reuters)