The next meeting of Ukraine's allies in the Ramstein format will be chaired by Britain and Germany, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga told reporters during a visit to Brussels.
A journalist from the Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform asked Sybiga whether the non-participation of US Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett in this meeting meant that the United States was withdrawing from this initiative.
"Ramstein" was created to coordinate the efforts of our closest allies to support us and meet our defense needs," the Ukrainian foreign minister replied. — The next Ramstein will be chaired by Britain and Germany, with Germany playing an active role. Therefore, this format will continue to exist and will work to strengthen both common security and the security of Ukraine," Sibiga replied, quoted by the BBC.
Earlier, Defense News reported, citing sources in Europe and America, that for the first time, the head of the Pentagon will not participate in the meeting of the international coalition to provide military support to Ukraine, which is scheduled for April 11 in Brussels.
According to Defense News, Hegseth will not join the meeting in Ramstein either in person or via video link, and other representatives of the US Department of Defense will also not attend the meeting.
Thus, the next meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine may be the first without the participation of the United States, which created this group after the Russian invasion in 2022.