Ramstein meeting; Reflecting concerns from the Trump era
Ukraine’s preside and US defense secretary used their latest meeting today (Thursday) to pressure the incoming Trump administration not to stop supporting Kiev. They claimed that stopping military support “will only lead to more aggression, chaos and war.”
According to RCO News Agency, Ukrainian Preside Volodymyr Zelensky, who we to the American Ramstein base in Germany to participate in the meeting of his coury’s allies, said: “We have come so far that it would be crazy to drop the ball now and join the coalitions.” “Let’s not coinue the defense we have created.”
“No matter what’s going on in the world, everyone just was to be sure that their coury won’t be wiped off the map,” he added.
Also, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who was prese at the meeting, officially announced the latest $500 million security assistance program, which includes missiles for fighters, support equipme for F-16 fighters, armored bridge systems and small arms and ammunition to It will be Ukraine.
The weapons are funded through a presideial authorization, meaning they can be taken directly from US stockpiles, and the Peagon is working to get them to Ukraine before the end of the moh.
Zelensky and Lloyd Austin
Ukraine is in the middle of the second attack on the “Kursk” region located in the territory of Russia, and at the same time, it is facing a barrage of long-range missiles and coinuous Russian advances. Both sides are looking to put themselves in the strongest position for possible negotiations before the official inauguration of US Preside-elect Donald Trump on January 20.
According to the Associated Press, Zelensky called the Kursk offensive “one of the biggest victories” that cost Russia and North Korea, which he claimed se thousands of troops to help Russia in Kursk. Zelensky claimed that the attack resulted in 4,000 North Korean casualties, while US estimates put the number at less than 1,200.
The preside of Ukraine also said once again that Ukraine will need air defense systems and ammunition to couer Russian missile attacks. Meanwhile, the German Ministry of Defense reported that Germany will supply Kiev with nearly 50 guided missiles for the IRIS-T air defense systems.
From right, Zelensky and Boris Pistorius
At the same time, the head of the Peagon said in the gathering of about 50 member couries that have gathered for the last three years to coordinate arms and military support for Ukraine: “If Putin swallows Ukraine, his appetite will increase.”
In this meeting, Germany also reacted to Donald Trump’s rece rhetoric.
In rece days, Trump has threatened to use military means to seize Greenland, which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark – a member of NATO – if necessary. Such a move would upset all the norms of the historic NATO alliance and would likely oblige members to defend Denmark because of US aggression.
Minister of Defense of Germany
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called Trump’s remarks “diplomatically astonishing”.
He said: “Unions are unions, to remain united.” Regardless of who rules the couries. “I am quite optimistic that such statemes will not really affect US policy after January 20.”
There are also questions about whether there will be a future meeting with Ukraine’s 50-member defense coact group. It is also possible that the group will take a new shape under the watch of one of its main European coributors, such as Germany.
In this regard, the German Minister of Defense said: “If the United States does not return to the negotiating table to help Ukraine, Germany and several other European couries are considering options.”
Pistorius said he plans to travel to the United States shortly after Trump’s inauguration to meet with his new couerpart to discuss the issue.
Following that, Zelensky said: “It is clear that a new season for Europe and the whole world will begin in just 11 days. When we will have to cooperate even more, rely on each other even more and achieve greater results together.”
The US Defense Minister emphasized in this security meeting: “Withdrawal will only be inceives for more imperialist aggressions.” And if we flip, you can cou on Putin to push harder and punch harder. Ukraine’s survival is at stake, but so is the security of Europe, the United States, and the world.”
Road map of military cooperation with Ukraine
At the same time, the US Departme of Defense (Peagon) reported that in today’s “Rammstein” meeting, eight couries approved the roadmap for defense cooperation with Ukraine uil 2027. The final agreeme to finalize these roadmaps was made on July 13, 2024, after the NATO summer meeting.
“Given these capability goals for 2027, our nations plan to work closely with Ukraine to ideify how to meet these criteria, between wartime needs and Ukraine’s future force, through financial assistance,” the Peagon stateme said. The releva national, purchases and investmes should create a balance and explain the effort to expand the capacity of the defense industrial base, including by using the production capabilities and maiaining the domestic defense industries of Ukraine.
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