Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told members of the 11th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Germany that the United States would begin training Ukrainian forces on Abrams battle tanks next month, in hopes that the first of what are expected to be 31 refurbished models can be on the battlefield by fall. In a news conference with Austin after the meeting, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark A. Milley cautioned that the Abrams were “no silver bullet,” but said the allies had already “met our initial goals” of providing armored vehicles and training for nine mechanized combat brigades that are now “prepared for combat operations” in Ukraine.