Ramstein to be led by Britain for the first time. Ukraine's Defense Minister Umerov reveals what will be discussed at meeting
The meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (Ramstein format) has begun in Brussels. For the first time, the meeting is chaired by the Secretary of State for Defense of the United Kingdom, John Healey. The new US Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, will also participate, announced Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
The Ukrainian defense chief announced that the agenda for the meeting includes:
- stable and timely supply of military assistance in 2025;
- accelerating the supply of critically important weapons — air defense, aviation, ammunition;
- investments in the defense industry in Ukraine and joint projects with European partners.
In addition, long-term solutions are being discussed at Ramstein: expanding defense production in Ukraine, financing the Ukrainian defense industry and creating new enterprises, increasing the volume of weapons supplies at the expense of the capacities of the European defense industry.
Umerov will also hold a series of bilateral meetings with the defense ministers of allied countries.
"The main goal is to strengthen military cooperation and real mechanisms for supporting Ukraine. Ukraine is ready for negotiations to end the war. But a just and lasting peace is possible only when Ukraine is strong on the battlefield," Umerov noted.
The previous, 25th Ramstein meeting took place on January 9, before the change of power in the United States. Then-US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that the decision on the future of the Contact Group would be made by the new White House administration.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that after Donald Trump takes office as US president, meetings in the Ramstein format will continue. However, media reports said that the United Kingdom will take over the chairmanship of Ramstein instead of the United States.
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