Latest news with #Ramstein-format
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Next Ramstein summit to take place on June 4 in Brussels
The upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) meeting in the Ramstein format will be held on June 4 in Brussels under the chairmanship of the U.K. and Germany, NATO announced on May 29. The Ramstein summit will take place as Washington is trying to broker a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia to end Moscow's full-scale war. In the meantime, Russia is amassing forces for a new offensive against Ukraine while continuing its attacks on civilians across the country, straining Ukrainian air defenses. The last Ramstein-format UDCG meeting took place in Brussels on April 11 under the chairmanship of London and Berlin — a position previously held by the U.S. Leadership over Ramstein transitioned following the inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump. During the previous meeting, NATO allies committed more than 21 billion euros ($23.8 billion) in long-term military aid to Ukraine. The move came amid growing uncertainty over U.S. support for Ukraine and efforts by European allies to close the gap as Kyiv resists Russia's ongoing war. Read also: Russia amassed enough troops to attack Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, Border Guard warns We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukrainian diplomat urges Merz to deliver Taurus missiles to Kyiv, lead Europe in ending Russia's war
Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Melnyk has called on Germany's incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to fulfill his campaign promise and immediately deliver 150 Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, alongside a broader set of decisive actions to stop Russia's full-scale war. "Germany, of all places, has a decisive role to play in stopping murder and bringing about a just peace," Melnyk wrote in a letter published in German by Die Welt, a national daily newspaper. "Not only does the future of the Federal Republic depend on your success as chancellor, but also the fate of Ukraine — and the whole of Europe." Andrii Melnyk served as Ukraine's ambassador to Germany from December 2014 to October 2022, then as Deputy Foreign Minister, and since June 20, 2023, he has been Ukraine's ambassador to Brazil. In the letter, published shortly before Easter, Melnyk outlined five steps Merz should take during his first 100 days in office. First, he proposed a coalition decision to allocate 0.5% of Germany's GDP annually — around 21.5 billion euros ($24.5 billion) per year, or 86 billion euros ($98 billion) by 2029 — for arms supplies to Ukraine. The funding, he said, should go toward the production of advanced weapons in both Germany and Ukraine, calling it "a huge investment in Germany's security." Read also: 'Today we will pledge billions' for Ukraine — allies begin Ramstein-format meeting in Brussels Melnyk also called for the same 0.5% commitment to be adopted at the EU and G7 levels, excluding the United States. He said the resulting 550-billion-euro ($622 billion) investment in Ukraine's defense over the next four years would send a powerful message to Moscow. "This mega-commitment… would be a huge warning signal to Putin that you, Mr. Merz, and our allies are serious about Ukraine's aid," he wrote. "This will impress Putin." One of the most urgent demands in the letter is the immediate announcement and implementation of Taurus missile deliveries. "This election promise must be fulfilled, despite the expected resistance from the (Social Democratic Party) SPD," Melnyk wrote, adding that Germany does not need "coordination with partners" or to issue ultimatums to the Kremlin. The outgoing German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, has repeatedly blocked the delivery of Taurus missiles over his concerns about escalation. Merz has been critical of this position and advocated for Ukraine's ability to strike strategically. In an interview on April 13, Merz also suggested that the long-range missiles, if supplied to Ukraine, could be used to target strategic Russian military infrastructure in occupied Crimea. The Telegraph reported on April 16 that the U.K. would support a potential German decision to send Taurus missiles to Ukraine. "These inferno weapons should simply be delivered, without 'ifs' and 'buts', to stop the creeping advance of the Russians and change the current war dynamics at its core," Melnyk wrote, according to the Welt. The letter also proposes transferring 30% of Germany's available fighter jets, helicopters, and armored vehicles to Ukraine and adopting a lend-lease-style law to enable swift deliveries. Melnyk concluded by urging Merz to push to confiscate 200 billion euros in frozen Russian assets and use the funds for Ukraine's reconstruction. Read also: As Trump mulls cuts, NATO's integrity is on the line We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ukraine ready to buy more air defense systems, Zelensky says
Kyiv is prepared to purchase additional air defense systems to better protect Ukrainian cities from Russian attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during his evening address on April 11. The need for more air defenses was the focus of his address to the participants in the Ramstein-format summit held earlier in the day in Brussels, Zelensky said, calling it "the first priority." The president participated in the summit virtually, joining the meeting from Kryvyi Rih — Zelensky's hometown and the site of a deadly Russian missile attack last week that killed 20 people, including nine children. "The main thing for us is air defense, additional air defense systems, missiles for them," Zelensky said, delivering his address while sheltering underground in a local school where three of the victims studied. "To protect people's lives, to protect our cities. We are very much counting on the decisions of our partners – we need systems, they exist in the world, and we need a political decision so that air defense works, works here ... and many other of our cities and our communities." Zelensky also said he discussed the matter with U.S. President Donald Trump. "Ukraine is not just asking – we are ready to buy the appropriate additional systems," he said. Shortly after the April 8 missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky urged the U.S. to provide more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. The highly advanced U.S. Patriot systems have played a crucial role in protecting Ukraine's sky. They are capable of downing even the most advanced ballistic missiles, such as Kinzhals. During a March 19 call with Zelensky, Trump agreed to assist Ukraine in finding additional Patriot systems available in Europe. While Kyiv and Moscow agreed to a U.S.-brokered partial ceasefire on March 11, Russian attacks against Ukrainian cities did not abate in the month that followed. Russia launched 70 missiles, 2,200 Shahed-type drones, and 6,000 guided aerial bombs over the past 30 days, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on April 11. Ukraine has already agreed to accept a complete ceasefire on all hostilities as soon as Russia abides by the same terms. Russia continues to refuse. Read also: Ukraine war latest: US envoy Witkoff proposes giving Russia 'ownership' of Ukrainian regions, Reuters reports We've been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
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. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany's defence minister explains why Pentagon chief did not attend Brussels Ramstein meeting in person
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not attend the meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (Ramstein format) in Brussels on 11 April due to scheduling commitments. A definitive statement regarding Washington's future participation in the Ramstein meetings is expected in the coming weeks. Source: German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius in a comment to journalists after the meeting, as reported by a European Pravda correspondent Details: Pistorius stressed that Hegseth had not come to Brussels due to a busy schedule but made interesting comments via video link. "Well, in terms of the participation of Pete Hegseth virtually or physically here in Brussels, it's not a matter of priorities. I think it's a matter of schedules. As far as I'm informed, he just came back from a several days lasting trip around the world, more or less," Pistorius said. "We had some other ministers not taking part today too, because they had other schedule obligations too," he added. "So the most important fact was that he [Hegseth] took part," the German defence minister said. "He addressed the auditorium with some, I would say, interesting and correct assessments, considering what Europeans have been doing since the beginning of the year and have done before. And I think this is the most important fact about that," he said. "And in the future, in the weeks to come, we will see what's going to happen with the US participation, with the US support. I am not able to have a look in the crystal ball. We wait and see," said Pistorius. He added that other participating states "should better look on our own and to do what we have to do and we can do". Background: Meanwhile, Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov stated that the US continues to provide security assistance to Ukraine and stands "alongside us". Earlier, media reports suggested that Hegseth would skip the Ramstein-format meeting on support for Ukraine, which was held in Brussels on 11 April under the chairmanship of the United Kingdom and Germany. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
