Germany and Britain sent a message to Russia today that Ukraine will be able to continue its fight thanks to Western support, even as the United States continues negotiations with Moscow, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.
European powers co-chaired a meeting of the so-called "Ramstein" Group for the first time involving 51 countries that provide military assistance to Ukraine after Washington gave up the presidency, and said they could find no signs that Russian President Vladimir Putin was ready for peace.
While the meeting was taking place, US President Donald Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Russia for talks with the Russian president.
"Given Russia's continued aggression against Ukraine, we must recognize that peace in Ukraine seems unattainable in the near future," German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said after the meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels. Bulgaria's Defense Ministry said Deputy Defense Minister Radostin Iliev was participating in the two-day meeting.
The Contact Group for Military Assistance to Ukraine, known as "Rammstein" (named after the US air base in Germany), was set up by the US under former President Joe Biden to coordinate military aid to Kiev and push governments to provide more funds. But the Trump administration, which has questioned Washington's future military support for Kiev as it presses both sides to reach a ceasefire agreement and seeks to end Moscow's isolation, has stepped down from its leadership.
In statements to journalists, both Pistorius and his British counterpart John Healy sought to reassure Kiev that Western military support would continue. "We will ensure that Ukraine continues to benefit from our joint military support. Russia must understand that Ukraine is capable of continuing to fight and we will support it (...) Ukraine can count on us", Pistorius said.
Earlier today, Pistorius and Healy said at a joint press conference at NATO headquarters with their Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov after a meeting of defense ministers from 51 countries that Ukraine would receive additional military aid worth 21 billion euros. For his part, Healy identified 2025 as crucial in Ukraine's resistance to the Russian invasion. "Now is the critical moment in this war (...) and we say to Ukraine: "We are with you in the fight and will be with you in peace", said the British Defense Secretary.
Pistorius did not attach much importance to the fact that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegsett attended the meeting only via videoconference. He cited Hegseth's schedule as the reason, adding that "the most important thing is that he participated." However, the German defense minister acknowledged that it was unclear how the US involvement and support would develop in the future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also joined the meeting via videoconference.
Kiev's main European allies are seeking to preserve the so-called Ramstein Group to maintain the rhythm of arms deliveries to Ukraine and demonstrate unwavering support for Kiev.
During the meeting, Britain and Germany highlighted their latest commitments to military aid to Ukraine. The aid package from Germany includes four IRIS-T air defense systems with 300 missiles attached to them. For its part, Britain said it would, together with Norway, fund radar systems, anti-tank mines and hundreds of thousands of drones, Reuters notes.