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2022 Ramstein Air Base meeting

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2022 Ramstein meeting

The Ramstein Air Base meeting was an international conference organized by the United States that took place on 26 April 2022 at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian defense capabilities, as well as pledge and coordinate further support to Ukraine – including after the war. Representatives and senior defense officials from more than 40 nations attended, the majority of them NATO and EU members, but also including countries in Africa and Asia.

The meeting was part of the Ukraine Defense Consultative Group, also known as the Ukraine Defense Contact Group,[1][2] which has held 25 meetings, the most recent on 12 October 2024.

During the 2024 Washington NATO summit, Jens Stoltenberg announced that the NATO is forming a new command (NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine) to plan, coordinate, and arrange delivery of security assistance that Ukraine needs to prevail in its fight today, and in the future.[3]

Participants and attendees

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Over 40 nations were represented at the meeting, including both NATO and non-NATO members.[1] All countries part of NATO and/or the European Union participated.[4] Representatives from some nations, among them Israel and Qatar, participated at the meeting but did not appear on the official list of attendees.[1] According to the Washington Post, the inclusion of non-NATO member countries like Japan, Kenya and Tunisia was "part of an effort to extend substantive and symbolic support for Ukraine beyond Europe and the alliance".[1] Other non-NATO and non-EU attendees included Australia, Jordan, Liberia, Morocco, New Zealand and South Korea.[5][6][2]

The conference was organized with less than a week's notice.[7] Despite not organized under NATO auspices,[8] it was supposed to be attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.[9] However, he could not attend due to a cold.[2] While most countries had attendees physically present, South Korea and Japan joined virtually.[4]

Dignitaries in attendance

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NATO member states

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Asia-Pacific partners

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Middle Eastern partners

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African partners

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Meeting

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At the meeting, Ukraine is said to have outlined its defense needs.[4] Several nations announced new shipments of heavy weapons to Ukraine at Ramstein, including Germany and Canada.[7][11]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the organizer of the meeting, having visited Kyiv days earlier told the meeting that his "visit only underscored my sense of urgency, an urgency that I know that we all share", stating he would like "this whole group today to leave with a common and transparent understanding of Ukraine's near-term security requirements because we're going to keep moving heaven and earth so that we can meet them."[1] Behind closed doors, general Mark Milley is reported to have stated that "the next two, three, four weeks will shape the overall outcome of this fight",[1] stating "time is not on Ukraine's side".[5] Austin also stated that the conference sought "to help Ukraine win the fight against Russia's unjust invasion and to build up Ukraine's defenses for tomorrow's challenges", and that "we do want to make it harder for Russia to threaten its neighbors and make it less able to do that."[9][2] Austin also made a comment regarding a series of attacks that started the day before the meeting on 25 April in the Russian-backed breakaway republic of Transnistria, internationally recognized as part of Moldova. He more specifically declared that he was "not really sure what that's all about, but it's something that we will stay focused on".[12]

Against a backdrop of domestic and international pressure, the German defence minister Christine Lambrecht announced at Ramstein that Gepard self-propelled anti-aircraft weapons were to be offered to Ukraine from industry stocks, stating "Germany, together with its allies, stands firmly at the side of its Ukrainian friends who are in dire need".[13][9][5] This marked a major change in German policy, having previously hesitated in sending heavy weapons to Ukraine.[9] Lambrecht also stated Ukrainian soldiers would be trained on the systems on German soil.[9]

Aftermath and reactions

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According to Secretary of Defense Austin, the conference is to be transformed into a monthly "contact group" on Ukraine's self-defense.[9] Part of its focus is to organize co-operation in the fields of industry, to deal "with the tremendous demand that we’re facing for munitions and weapons platforms".[7] It is to be open to any country willing to contribute to Ukrainian defense capabilities, and it is expected by the U.S. that more nations will join the upcoming meetings virtually.[7]

After the meeting, the Ukrainian minister of defence, Oleksii Reznikov stated on Twitter that "We need weapons. Modern weapons. A large number of modern heavy weapons".[5][14] He also called the conference a "momentous meeting",[15] and that "tectonic philosophical shifts have occurred".[16]

Marcel Dirsus, a nonresident fellow at the Institute for Security Policy at Kiel University, called the German statements at Ramstein a "strong signal" from Germany, after a recent string of contradictory statements and perceived reluctance.[13]

The former Ukrainian ambassador to the United States, Volodymyr Yelchenko, has stated that the meeting may have marked the official founding of an "Anti-Putin Coalition".[17] Ukrainian political scientist and Vice-Rector of the Ukrainian Catholic University, Dmytro Sherenhovskyy, stated that the meeting marked significant changes in international security architecture.[16]

According to Euromaidan Press, "in some sense the Ramstein meeting demonstrates a gradual increase in the national leaders’ readiness to take responsibility in global leadership", also stating that "the meeting at the US Air Force base Ramstein has already been called historic for Ukraine."[16]

Subsequent meetings

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Main article: Ukraine Defense Contact Group

The last meeting took place on 19 March 2024 in Ramstein Air Base.

Date Location Note
1 26 April 2022 Ramstein Air Base [18]
2 23 May 2022 Virtual [19]
3 15 June 2022 NATO headquarters [20]
4 20 July 2022 Virtual [21]
5 8 September 2022 Ramstein Air Base [22]
6 12 October 2022 NATO headquarters [23]
7 16 November 2022 Virtual [24]
8 20 January 2023 Ramstein Air Base [25][26]
9 14 February 2023 NATO headquarters [27]
10 15 March 2023 Virtual [28]
11 21 April 2023 Ramstein Air Base [29][30]
12 25 May 2023 Virtual [31]
13 15 June 2023 NATO headquarters [32]
14 18 July 2023 Virtual [33]
15 19 September 2023 Ramstein Air Base [34]
16 11 October 2023 NATO headquarters [35]
17 22 November 2023 Virtual [36]
18 23 January 2024 Virtual [37]
19 14 February 2024 NATO headquarters [38]
20 19 March 2024 Ramstein Air Base [39]
21 26 April 2024 Virtual [40]
22 20 May 2024 Virtual [41]
23 13 June 2024 NATO headquarters [42]
24 6 September 2024 Ramstein Air Base [43]
25 12 October 2024 Ramstein Air Base [44][45]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f DeYoung, Karen; Timsit, Annabelle (26 April 2022). "'Putin never imagined' global rally of Ukraine support, defense secretary says". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d Herszenhorn, David M.; Bayer, Lili (26 April 2022). "US rallies global allies to help Ukraine repel Russia". Politico. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  3. ^ nato.int (11 July 2024): NATO Security Assistance and Training Ukraine is assisting Ukraine
  4. ^ a b c Brzozowski, Alexandra (27 April 2022). "Ramstein meeting gives birth to global 'contact group' to support Ukraine". Euractiv. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Stewart, Phil (26 April 2022). "At defence talks in Germany, U.S. says world galvanized against Russia's invasion". Reuters. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  6. ^ Okafor, Chiamaka (27 April 2022). "Four African countries invited to U.S-led Ukraine defence summit". Premium Times. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  7. ^ a b c d Machi, Vivienne (26 April 2022). "US, allies to meet monthly on Ukraine defense needs". defensenews.com. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  8. ^ Tirpak, John A. (22 April 2022). "Long-Term Ukraine Aid to Be Discussed at Ramstein Meeting". airforcemag.com. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  9. ^ a b c d e f "US plans regular Ramstein Air Base meetings on Ukraine". Deutsche Welle. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  10. ^ Ahronheim, Anna (26 April 2022). "Israel taking part in US-led Ukraine defense summit". Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 24 May 2022.
  11. ^ "Austin Meets With Nations to Intensify Support for Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. 26 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  12. ^ "U.S. unsure about cause of Transdniestria violence- Pentagon chief". Reuters. 26 April 2022.
  13. ^ a b Morris, Loveday (26 April 2022). "After hesitancy, Germany greenlights some heavy arms for Ukraine". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  14. ^ DeYoung, Karen; Lamothe, Dan; Hudson, John; Cadell, Cate (26 April 2022). "U.S., allies promise to keep backing Ukraine in its war with Russia". Washington Post. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  15. ^ "Oleksii Reznikov, Twitter". Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  16. ^ a b c Hrudka, Orysia (29 April 2022). "Breakthrough at Ramstein: NATO unites to help Ukraine defeat Russia". Euromaidan Press. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  17. ^ "Зустріч у Рамштайні засвідчила створення антипутінської коаліції – Єльченко" (in Ukrainian). Ukrinform. 27 April 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  18. ^ "Equipment Sent to Ukraine Having an Effect on Battlefields". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  19. ^ "Austin Hosts Ukraine Defense Contact Group to Continue Support for Beleaguered Country". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  20. ^ "More Than 50 Nations Pledge to Help Build Ukraine's Defense". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  21. ^ "Defense Leaders Meet to Bolster Ukraine Support". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  22. ^ "Contact Group Aids Ukraine's Current Battle, Looks to Long-Term Assistance". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  23. ^ "Allies Are Unified in Support for Ukraine Ahead of NATO Meetings, Defense Official Says". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  24. ^ "Ukraine Contact Group Is Key to Helping Ukraine's Defense". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  25. ^ "Next Ramstein Format Meeting on Defense of Ukraine on Jan. 20". Kyiv Post. 7 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  26. ^ Soltys, Dennis (2023-01-22). "The West Isn't Scared of Ukraine Beating Russia Anymore". 19FortyFive. Retrieved 2023-01-23.
  27. ^ "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, February 14, 2023". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 2023-02-17.
  28. ^ Lloyd J. Austin (15 March 2023) Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Tenth Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered)
  29. ^ "Ramstein-11 date revealed". Ukrainska Prawda. 11 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  30. ^ "Ukraine Defense Contact Group to hold next meeting on Apr 21 – U.S. Air Force". Ukrinform. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 13 April 2023.
  31. ^ Garamone, Jim (25 May 2023). "Defense Contact Group Remains Steadfast on Ukraine Support". U.S. Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 26 May 2023. Retrieved 26 May 2023.
  32. ^ "Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to Visit Germany, Brussels and NATO for Ukraine Defense Contact Group and Defense Ministerial Meetings". U.S. Department of Defense. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  33. ^ "Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  34. ^ "Austin Makes Call to New Counterpart in Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  35. ^ "NATO Defence Ministers meet to discuss Ukraine, deterrence and defence, Kosovo and the Middle East". NATO. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
  36. ^ Ukrainska Pravda (22 November 2023) Pentagon chief opens Ramstein meeting and calls for Ukraine's air defence to be strengthened
  37. ^ "U.S. Continues Protection Mission in Middle East, Convenes Ukraine Defense Group Meeting". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2024-01-22.
  38. ^ "NATO Defence Ministers to address defence spending, ammunition production, support to Ukraine". NATO. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  39. ^ "U.S. Vows to Continue Support for Ukraine, Despite Funding Doubts". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  40. ^ "US to provide new Patriot missiles for Ukraine as part of additional $6bn aid package". Irish Times Times. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  41. ^ https://www.gov.pl/web/national-defence/22-meeting-of-the-ukraine-defense-contact-group
  42. ^ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2024/06/minister-blair-announces-additional-military-assistance-for-ukraine-at-the-23rd-meeting-of-the-ukraine-defense-contact-group.html
  43. ^ https://www.voanews.com/amp/zelenskyy-meets-top-military-leaders-in-germany-as-the-us-announces-additional-aid-to-ukraine/7773768.html
  44. ^ https://www.rttnews.com/amp/3477978/ukraine-defense-contact-group-to-meet-in-germany-on-october-12.aspx
  45. ^ https://www.ukrinform.net/amp/rubric-ato/3913068-zelensky-steps-towards-just-end-to-war-will-be-presented-at-ramstein-meeting.html
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