Germany’s Ramstein base hosts 15th meeting of Ukraine Defense Contact Group

Today, September 19, the 15th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group began at the US Air Force base "Ramstein" in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that American M1 Abrams tanks will soon be on the battlefield in Ukraine.

He said this in his introductory speech at the 15th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format.

"Time is working against Putin," US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin said at the opening of the meeting and promised that the partners will stand by Ukraine as long as necessary.

This is the first meeting for Rustem Umierov as the head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.

Austin began his speech by thanking former Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov "for his hard work and dedication and for everything he has done for a free Ukraine in a safe world."

At the same time, Austin congratulated the new head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and noted that he already had a "good conversation" with Umierov.

"Rustem, I look forward to working closely with you and your team. I'm sure everyone here is just as excited," Austin addressed the participants at the meeting.

In total, about 50 countries are participating in the Rammstein format.

"Ramstein" is the name of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, created to assess Ukraine's defense needs and provide assistance. The first meeting of the Contact Group took place on April 26, 2022, at the US Air Force Base "Ramstein" in Germany, with the participation of 40 countries.

"This will be the 15th meeting since Secretary Austin formed the international group. The minister and chairman [Milley – ed.] will join ministers of defense and high-ranking military representatives from nearly 50 countries," Pentagon deputy spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said earlier at a press briefing.

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In January 2023, US President Joe Biden announced that his country would send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to form a tank battalion.

Depending on the modification, these tanks are equipped with a 105 mm or 120 mm gun and three machine guns. Since the beginning of the 1980s, about 9,000 units of this equipment have been produced. Most of them were or are in service with the United States.

However, White House national security spokesman John Kirby said that "it will be many months" before American Abrams tanks can reach Ukraine.

As Rubryka wrote, Joe Biden wants to hear from Zelensky his assessment of the situation on the battlefield.