Latest news with #RamsteinGroup
Qatar Tribune
2 days ago
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Ukraine allies pledge continued support
dpa Brussels Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting. The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev. The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth €400 million ($457 million). The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said. Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question. Hegseth did not attend the meeting, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings. Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine relying on increased weapons production abroad
The Ukrainian government is relying on increased production in collaboration with European partners for the supply of weapons and ammunition, the country's defence minister said on Wednesday. Rustem Umerov said there is also interest in having Ukrainian arms companies manufacture newly developed systems outside the country. He made his comments after a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group - also known as the Ramstein Group - in Brussels. These weapons should be delivered to Ukraine for the duration of the war, he added. Umerov, who reported on the meeting's outcomes together with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and the British Secretary of Defence John Healey, said: "We will build drones, missiles, ammunition and other weapons together. Ukrainian drones have changed the battlefield. And now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats." He added that the joint production represents a strategic shift. Pistorius had already promised increased efforts for more air defence systems and electromagnetic warfare before the meeting, namely protection and disruption of communication and weapon deployments. Other countries are participating in these initiatives. Healey condemned the ongoing Russian attacks on cities and civilians in Ukraine despite peace efforts: "Ukraine, the United States, all of us here are calling for a ceasefire. We are for peace. Putin continues the war, so the work of this contact group becomes even more important. We must step up. We must never step back."
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine allies pledge continued support despite US minister's absence
Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting. The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev. The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth €400 million ($457 million). The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said. Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid to Ukraine after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question. Hegseth did not attend the meeting in Brussels, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings. Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense. Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final. "But the Europeans are ready, and Germany is ready to take responsibility," he stressed. "What we can compensate for remains to be seen. But we are making it very clear that we are determined not to leave Ukraine alone and to do what is necessary and possible to support Ukraine in its defence," Pistorius said. "The important thing is that we remain in discussion, and that's what we're doing," Pistorius said of Hegseth's absence. Brekelmans also suggested that the US position on military aid for Ukraine might change in the near future. "We see that Russia and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are not willing to truly negotiate. And I think the United States is also starting to realize that," he said. For the time being, Ukraine's allies should increase pressure on Russia and keep supporting Ukraine, Brekelmans said.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Germany pledges ground radars, air defence systems to Ukraine
Germany plans to supply more than 1,100 ground surveillance radars and additional IRIS-T air defence missile systems to Ukraine, acting German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday. This was part of Germany's medium and long-term planning for supporting Kiev in its defence against Russia, said Pistorius at an international meeting to coordinate further military aid for Ukraine at NATO headquarters in Brussels. In addition to long-term pledges, Ukraine will receive four more IRIS-T systems plus 300 guided missiles and 100 ground surveillance radars this year, he said. A further 100,000 rounds of artillery ammunition, 300 reconnaissance drones, 25 Marder infantry fighting vehicles, 15 Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks, 120 Manpads ground-based air defence systems and 14 artillery systems will be provided by Berlin, Pistorius said. Germany recently delivered 30 additional Patriot guided missiles to Ukraine, he added. Russian President Vladimir Putin continues to attack Ukraine and cause an increasing number of civilian casualties, the German minister said. "There is no sign of any decline in the fighting on Putin's part. He accepts the deaths of civilians, even children," Pistorius said. About 40 countries are represented at the gathering in Brussels which is being co-chaired by Germany and the United Kingdom for the first time. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth are expected to join the meeting by video-link. Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov is expected to outline what defence equipment his armed forces currently need most urgently. Earlier on Friday, the UK announced a £450 million ($584 million) package of military support to Ukraine, the Press Association reported. The package includes £350 million from the UK, with further funding being provided by Norway, the news agency said. Military sources recently warned that Ukraine could face significant military difficulties by the end of the summer if partners do not commit to further military aid. The meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels will be chaired by Pistorius and his British counterpart John Healey. The two politicians are stepping in for former US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who had initiated and led the so-called Ramstein Group, comprising around 50 countries, until the change of government in Washington. The new US administration under President Donald Trump has decided not to continue this role. Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense. Ukraine has been defending itself from a full-scale Russian attack for more than three years, with the help of Western aid.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sweden to provide Ukraine with artillery systems and radars worth US$295 million
Sweden will purchase Archer self-propelled artillery systems and Arthur counter-battery radars for Ukraine as part of its 18th military aid package worth US$295 million. Source: European Pravda, citing the Swedish government in a statement Details: As part of its military assistance to Ukraine, Sweden will purchase 18 Archer self-propelled artillery systems and five Arthur radars while also investing in Ukraine's defence production, particularly the production of Bohdana self-propelled artillery systems. Additionally, Stockholm intends to join the artillery coalition within the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (also known as the Ramstein Group). The total value of this part of Sweden's military package is about SEK 3 billion (US$295 million). "Ukraine is in urgent need of artillery and artillery ammunition. This has been a priority for Ukraine since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine's Minister of Defence Rustem Umierov highlighted this point when I met him at the weekend," Swedish Defence Minister Pål Jonson commented. The Swedish government noted that Ukraine had previously received eight Archer artillery systems and one Arthur radar system in cooperation with the UK. Deliveries of the new Arthur systems are set to begin in 2025, with Archer system deliveries scheduled for 2026. The eighteenth military assistance package to Ukraine, which the Swedish government announced in late January, totals SEK 13.5 billion (approximately US$1.25 billion) and is the largest since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion. Background: Earlier, it was reported that Sweden plans to allocate SEK 75 billion [approx. US$7 billion] in military aid to Ukraine in 2024-2026. Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
