Ukraine's defence minister proposes holding next Ramstein meeting in Ukraine
The next meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein format) may be held in Ukraine – this proposal was made by the Ukrainian side.
Source: Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov speaking to journalists following the 11 April Ramstein meeting in Brussels, as reported by European Pravda, citing Ukrinform
Details: Umierov stressed that the Contact Group is "the main platform for supplying weapons, military equipment and ammunition" to Ukraine.
"We will continue working with all [partners]. I will propose holding their meeting in Ukraine so that colleagues from each of the coalitions can come, speak not only with us but also with representatives of the security and defence forces, and involve our defence industry – this will be a new format," Umierov stated.
He added that specific steps regarding a Ramstein meeting in Ukraine would be announced "a little later".
All Ramstein-format meetings to date have taken place in Brussels or via video conference. The most recent meeting on 11 April was held in Brussels and co-chaired by the United Kingdom and France.
Background:
During the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meeting in Brussels on 11 April, participating states pledged to increase their military assistance to Ukraine by a total of €21 billion.
Earlier, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced another military aid package for Ukraine, including four IRIS-T air defence systems.
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