On the evening of February 14, the 19th meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format came to an end.
The parties discussed the short-term needs of Ukraine, where the topics included, in particular, the supply of artillery, air defense, as well as issues of joint production of drones by Ukraine’s partner countries.
What other topics and agreements were discussed during the meeting in the Ramstein format on February 14 — ICTV Facts were exclusively told by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kirill Budanov.
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Results of the meeting
Following the meeting, the Pentagon announced that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin confirmed the determination of America and its partners to support Ukraine.
Marking two years since Russia's unprovoked invasion, Austin said the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group remains united in the common goal of supporting Ukraine's short- and long-term battlefield needs.
— The countries of this contact group, almost two years later, are still united by a common goal. The Kremlin continues to bet that we will all lose interest in Ukraine and that our support will flicker and fade, but I am as determined as ever — Austin said.
The Pentagon said that during the 19th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group there were almost 50 countries. At the same time, in a commentary to Facts ICTV of Ukraine Rustem Umerov stated that more than 50 countries took part in the meeting.
— Today we communicated that the air defense coalition will provide both systems and missiles. For artillery, there will be both artillery systems and shells, — he said.
President Vladimir Zelensky in his evening address also stated that the priorities of this meeting were increasing joint production and accelerating the supply of drones and air defense.
In his post on Facebook, Umerov said that the parties held fruitful negotiations within the framework of the Coalition of Opportunities.
— There is partner support. We are working to drive the Russians out of our territories — both on earth and in the sea and in the sky, — he wrote.
In general, says Umerov, today there are 8 coalitions within Ramstein, each of which has been joined by 10 countries.
— A fairly good list of opportunities that our partners will provide today. Secretary Austin also assured that the United States will support us. Almost all European defense ministers also spoke and assured that they would continue to support our country, — he told Facts ICTV.
The biggest focus during the Ramstein meeting on February 14 was on artillery, air defense, drones and the IT coalition, officials said.
Air Defense Coalition
Head of the German Ministry of Defense Boris Pistorius said that the result of the 19th meeting in the Ramstein format will be a significant “closure of the Ukrainian skies& #8221;, by strengthening air defense systems.
According to Pistorius, today was the first meeting of the air defense coalition at the level of the heads of the Ministry of Defense, led by Germany and France. This was also confirmed by his French colleague.
— Following the launch of the artillery coalition, today we, together with Boris Pistorius, are launching an air defense support coalition for Ukraine, — wrote the French Minister of Defense Sebastien Lecornu on the social network X (formerly Twitter).
In turn, the head of the German Ministry of Defense added that air defense is the central challenge in the Russian-Ukrainian war.
It is known that the coalition includes 15 partner countries, which signed a Memorandum of Plans to create a coalition on air and missile defense.
— This is an important step involving 15 participating countries, because we all recognize that air defense is an important lesson from the war against Ukraine, — Pistorius noted.
The coalition is expected to coordinate its national contributions to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, allowing Ukrainian forces to become more effective on the battlefield and enhance the protection of the population.
In a commentary to ICTV Facts, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Moscow Region, Kirill Budanov, especially noted the topic of air defense during the meeting.
— It was announced that support would continue in all areas. I can especially note the support for the provision of additional missiles for our air defense and anti-ship missile systems, — he said.
At the same time, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Moscow Region added that the number of air defense missiles is “pretty decent” and assured that Ukraine would “have enough for some time”, but did not specify the details.
In turn, Defense Minister Umerov, in a commentary to ICTV Facts, said that both missiles and the systems themselves were discussed during the meeting. Today, Ukraine is working to cover more cities with air defense, and to ensure that Ukrainian defenders have more missiles, the minister added.
Photo: Rustem Umerov
When Ukraine will receive the F-16
Regarding Ukraine's receipt of Western F-16 fighters, Budanov said that “the issue has already been resolved”. According to him, technical details are now being discussed, which relate to the transfer of aircraft, the readiness of Ukraine’s infrastructure to accept fighter aircraft, the readiness of Ukrainian pilots and Ukrainian personnel to maintain aircraft.
— These are purely technical issues. The issue, in general, has been resolved, — he added.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense did not comment on the specific timing of Ukraine receiving the aircraft, but said that this is already the “final stage”, and added that he hopes that the Ukrainians will be able to see the fighters in the skies of Ukraine already in spring.
In turn, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was more conservative in his assessment of Ukraine receiving aircraft. According to him, deliveries of fighters are taking place according to previously outlined plans, but to say that this will be in the spring or summer — didn't.
Drones
Also after the meeting, Rustem Umerov, in a commentary to Facts, ICTV announced that the participating countries of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine have opened a drone coalition, within which there will be several areas: the production of drones, financial support for the production of UAVs in Ukraine and abroad abroad.
According to him, production work has already begun.
— We are already working. We just don’t say what kind of supply is coming, because we produce quite a large number (of drones, — Ed.). Now they (partners, — Ed.) will join us through financing, and then we will watch. They will also supply their drones, — he said.
At the same time, Umerov says that all types and types of troops will be saturated with these drones. But Ukraine is looking at what can be done today regarding the supply of drones from its partners.
President Vladimir Zelensky in his evening address said that the coalition on drones included, in particular, the Netherlands, Germany and Estonia.
— The Netherlands, Germany, and Estonia joined the UK, Latvia and Sweden. Coalition Foundation — strong, the coalition is already working, — he said.
Artillery Coalition
As for artillery, in a commentary to ICTV Facts, Budanov said that the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Alexander Syrsky, made a detailed report during the Ramstein meeting, in which all the main priorities were clearly defined. In addition, the supply of 155-mm artillery shells to Ukraine was discussed with partners.
— It is clear that artillery systems and artillery ammunition — this is priority #1. Partners from different countries announced how much and which country, in what period of time (we were talking about the next month) would be able to transfer (weapons, — Ed.) . This will make our life much easier, — he said.
Rustem Umerov, in turn, added that within the framework of the artillery coalition, issues were discussed about where joint production of ammunition with partners would be possible, as well as where the systems and financing would come from.
Photo: Facebook/110th mechanized brigade named after Coronate General Mark Bezruchka
IT coalition
On the eve of the meeting, on February 12, the participating countries of the coalition to develop the IT capabilities of Ukraine completed the signing of a cooperation agreement, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine announced.
The IT coalition agreement was the first among the coalitions of opportunities, and the coalition itself included Estonia and Luxembourg as the leading countries, as well as Belgium, Denmark, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands and Ukraine. Also, by signing a declaration of intent, Great Britain also joined the coalition.
— The document consolidates the commitment of the participating states to provide assistance to Ukraine over the next 6 years with the aim of developing an interoperable IT infrastructure of the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Forces of Ukraine, — the message says.
The agreement also defines the roles of partner countries in cooperation within the IT coalition. We are talking about the decision-making and procurement procedure, as well as the legal justification of financial contributions from participating countries.
For reference. The IT coalition is engaged in supporting the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the field of IT, communications and cybersecurity.
Mine Action Coalition
Following the meeting, the Lithuanian Ministry of Defense reported that Lithuania and 20 other countries signed a Protocol of Intent in Brussels to create a coalition to clear mines in Ukraine.
The leaders in the coalition will be Lithuania and Iceland.
— The first important step has been taken, and much work lies ahead of us. If the situation with the training of soldiers in the field of mine clearance is currently satisfactory, then the need for equipment is critical. As part of the demining coalition, Lithuania will transfer armored personnel carriers to the Ukrainian army and allocate €1.2 million for the NATO demining support program for Ukraine, — said the Minister of National Defense of Lithuania Arvydas Anusauskas.
Financing
The meeting also resulted in funding for Ukraine from Canada. Thus, Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair said that his country will provide Ukraine with about $44 million (60 million Canadian dollars).
According to him, the funds will go to the Air Force Capacity Building Coalition of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group.
Blair noted that this contribution will be aimed at supporting the creation of a sustainable F-16 fighter capability in Ukraine. Specifically, the funds will help ensure the supply of critical supplies and equipment for the F-16, such as spare parts, weapons stations, avionics and ammunition.
