The next meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the Ramstein format will soon be held at the airbase of the same name in Germany.
When will Ramstein take place — date
The 25th meeting in the Ramstein format will be held by the Secretary of Defense of the United States Lloyd Austin January 9, 2025. The meeting of the group, which includes more than 50 countries, plans to discuss further support for Ukraine.
White House adviser John Kirby said this will be the last meeting during Joe Biden's term as US president. ICTV Facts asked experts about what Ukraine can expect from this Rammstein meeting.
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Rammstein meeting in Germany
The Rammstein meeting, which was supposed to take place in October 2024, was postponed after US President Joe Biden canceled his trip to Germany due to Hurricane Milton.
Political analyst Oleg Ponomar in a comment to ICTV Facts noted that over the three years during the Rammstein meetings, the leaders have done a lot for Ukraine.
— Let's say thank you and goodbye to Rammstein. I remember the dramas that played out there when Germany, for example, did not want to supply Leopards and so on. Naturally, Rammstein is impossible under Trump. It is impossible to imagine that Trump will encourage 50 countries to provide military assistance to Ukraine, — he believes.
Oleg Ponomarev noted that before Trump's arrival, the allies had taken precautions and created a new NATO headquarters in Wiesbaden, Germany, specifically for Ukraine.
According to him, it will take over the functions of Ramstein — coordinating military aid to Ukraine. The political analyst added that this will take place under the umbrella of NATO, not the US.
Photo: Office of the President
Transition period: what Ukraine can expect from the 25th Rammstein meeting
Head of the Board of the Penta Center for Applied Political Research and political scientist Volodymyr Fesenko told ICTV Fakty that Ramstein should not be viewed as a platform where decisions on military aid to Ukraine are made.
According to him, rather, they agree there on how to implement these decisions, which are made during bilateral and multilateral political meetings of heads of state and government.
— The defense ministers who are going to Ramstein are looking at where and who has these weapons. For example, an air defense system. Ukraine needs to be supplied with an air defense system. They are looking at who else has them in stock, what kind of air defense systems exactly, where and how many shells or missiles to get, — Fesenko said.
The expert noted that Rammstein is not a political platform, but rather an organizational and logistical one. In his opinion, it is a system that works almost like clockwork.
— The monthly Rammstein meeting should not be perceived as a political event. It is an element of systemic cooperation. The fact that this mechanism has been working for almost three years is an achievement. What is really important is that Rammstein works 24/7. Meeting once a month is the tip of the iceberg that is noticeable to everyone. But it is the logistical mechanism that plays a more important role, — he believes.
Vladimir Fesenko noted that he does not expect any big sensations from the Rammstein meeting, which will take place on January 9. In his opinion, it is important. This is a transitional meeting not only in terms of what exactly will be discussed.
— This is rather a phase when political decisions are being prepared, which will be made later. But why is the current meeting important? It is transitional. At the next meeting, there will be a new US Defense Minister. Now the question is open as to how military assistance from the US will be provided in the future, — the expert said.
According to him, it is this question in a closed, not public format, that will be the main one at the 25th Rammstein meeting.
— How to preserve this system? It is its format of operation as a clock without interruptions — that will be important. I think they will think about this, they will hear Austin, what he says, his advice. And they will continue to work out mechanisms if for some time, as it was, unfortunately, a year ago, there may be a pause or hang-up with military aid from the United States, — Vladimir Fesenko suggested.
