[Special contact group on the defence of Ukraine (UDCG)](https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3897721/fact-sheet-on-efforts-of-Ukraine-defense-contact-group-national-armaments-direc/) first met in September 2022 and representatives of more than 40 countries attended the meeting, including delegates representing the European Union, NATO and Ukraine. Its initiator was US Secretary of defence Lloyd J. Austin, who commissioned the coordination of activities to the Undersecretary of State. It was at the first gathering that the main lines of action were identified, e.g. mapping of arms production capacity, identifying production constraints and expanding the integration of military equipment from different countries.
