U.S. announces $500 million aid package
Outgoing U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Washington would provide an additional $500 million in military assistance to Ukraine, including air-defense munitions, support for Ukrainian F-16 fighters, and air-to-ground ammunition.
“Ukraine’s defensive war against Russia concerns us all,” Austin told officials, underscoring the possibility that this could be the last U.S. package ahead of the new administration taking over.
Uncertain future of Ramstein format
Multiple officials suggested Thursday’s session could be the last in its current form. Poland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz, speaking at the event, called the fate of the Contact Group “a key question.” He noted that several European nations, including Germany, Italy, and the U.K., want to continue the format “with a crucial U.S. role.”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius stated that if Donald Trump opts out of future Ramstein meetings, participating nations would create “another format” to keep the coordination going. This comes after NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte and other European officials flagged concerns over Trump’s repeated criticism of aid to Ukraine.
Europe ready to step up?
EU foreign-policy chief Kaja Kallas told reporters she expects the United States will maintain its backing for Ukraine, but the EU is “ready to take the lead if the new U.S. administration declines.” She said it was not in America’s interest for Russia to become “the world’s strongest power.”
Zelenskiy urges greater support, warns of North Korean troops
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, who arrived in Ramstein for talks, said Russian President Vladimir Putin is “doubling down” on military investment and has begun deploying soldiers from North Korea to bolster Russian forces.
“They have lost 4,000 men so far,” Zelenskiy claimed, adding that North Korea is “gaining cheap experience” in modern warfare.
Zelenskiy also called on partners to tighten sanctions on Russia’s energy sector, stating that the Kremlin’s 2025 military budget is 25% higher than last year.
“If we want to stop the killing, we must cut off Putin’s money flow,” he said.
Calls for more air defense, drone investment
Zelenskiy appealed for more air-defense systems and asked countries to invest in Ukraine’s drone industry, calling it Europe’s largest in both manufacturing and battlefield experience.
“After the war, these capabilities will be your capabilities too,” he told delegates.
With 11 days until Donald Trump’s inauguration, the meeting underscores concerns about the continuity of U.S.-led support. Austin, who originally launched the so-called Ramstein format in April 2022, said it has provided essential weapons and coordination for Ukraine. Whether future sessions proceed under Trump’s administration remains an open question.
Formed on April 26, 2022, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, also called the Ramstein Group, is an international platform uniting over 50 nations—including Poland, Germany, and the United States—to coordinate military aid for Ukraine’s defense against Russia. Thursday’s meeting—its 25th—marked the end of one chapter of cooperation and, potentially, the start of a new phase.
(jh)
Source: IAR, PAP, Ukrinform