13 June at NATO headquarters in Brussels the 23rd meeting of the Contact Group on Defense Issues of Ukraine (or Ramstein) will be held.
Also scheduled for today is a meeting of the Council of Ukraine — NATO at the level of defense ministers. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin will make statements.
ICTV Facts asked the head of the Center for Military Legal Studies Alexander Musienko what Ukraine should expect from a meeting in the Ramstein format.
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June Ramstein
According to him, the meeting in Brussels coincides with a number of important events, in particular with the visit of President Vladimir Zelensky to France, where he took part in celebrations in honor of the Allied landing in Normandy, and also held a meeting with the President of France Emmanuel Macron and American President Joe Biden.
In addition, the Ramstein meeting coincides with the Berlin conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine (June 11-12) and the G7 summit (in Italy from June 13 to 15).
At all these platforms, issues of supporting Ukraine are discussed in one way or another: the provision of additional air defense systems, additional weapons, the issue of granting Ukraine the right to strike Russian territory with Western weapons.
All this should ultimately change the situation at the front in favor of Ukraine, noted Alexander Musienko.
— The Ramstein meeting will take place against the backdrop of such large-scale events that will indicate support for Ukraine, — says the expert.
What questions can be raised at Ramstein
First of all, these are air defense systems. President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky announced that in the near future we will receive two or three more air defense systems. But the task is to get at least seven, the need for them is significant, because we must increase space and security guarantees for our facilities.
In addition, the moment is approaching when F-16 fighters may appear in the Ukrainian skies, and therefore Russia, in addition to energy facilities, is increasing the number of attacks on Ukrainian airfields.
— Therefore, the number of calls is growing, accordingly, there is serious work for air defense systems, — notes Alexander Musienko.
Secondly, this is a direct continuation of work on the deployment of F-16 aircraft, accelerating their deliveries. And in addition to missiles, bombs, and all the necessary weapons for them.
Thirdly, this is the continuation of the provision of our brigades, which Ukraine is currently forming. We need help from Western partners in training our military, equipping it with armored vehicles, small arms — that is, everything necessary.
Ammo for the APU
Equally important is the continued supply of shells to the Ukrainian Armed Forces in order to increase the number of losses of the Russian enemy. It is now very important for the defense forces, while on the defensive, not to allow the enemy to rapidly develop the pace of the offensive, and our units succeed in this.
That is, Ukraine should be able to inflict maximum losses on the occupiers, which Russia will not be able to restore with its mobilization, and this is 35-40 thousand per month. In order for us to inflict such losses on them, Ukraine needs more fire weapons.
Therefore, at the Ramstein meeting we will talk about both ammunition and shells to enhance our capabilities, summed up military expert Alexander Musienko.
