Ramstein 5: Pentagon Chief announces new military aid for Ukraine
The President of the United States, Joe Biden, approved a new package of military aid to Ukraine for about 675 million dollars
Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin announced this on Thursday, opening the Ramstein meeting in Germany, EP reports.
As Austin emphasized, the president approved a new tranche of the aid package to Ukraine worth $675 million yesterday.
According to him, the new package includes:
- more high-precision GMLRS rounds for HIMARS,
- 105-mm howitzers,
- artillery ammunition,
- HARM anti-radar missiles,
- humvee cars,
- anti-tank weapons,
- small arms and others.
According to the media, the Pentagon is preparing a detailed analysis and developing a plan to support the Ukrainian army in the medium and long term, including after the end of the war with russia.
The US assessment and initial plans could be discussed during a meeting with allies in Germany on Thursday.
The analysis will include an initial consideration of Ukraine's needs for a modernized air force and helicopters to support highly mobile ground forces, officials said.
On September 8, the Ramstein air base is once again hosting a meeting of Ukraine's allies.
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group met face-to-face under the leadership of US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
Today's Ramstein meeting was the fifth.
On the eve of the talks, the defense chiefs of the USA and Ukraine discussed the needs of the Ukrainian army at the moment and in the long term. Oleksii Reznikov said that further assistance from the USA in security is expected soon.
What the allies agreed on earlier
The last meeting in the Ramstein format took place online on July 20. The partners confirmed that they would provide Ukraine with any assistance to fight the aggressor and de-occupy Ukrainian territories.
During the conference, they discussed the continuation of the supply of weapons, new support packages, and training of the Ukrainian military.
Although the details of the agreement were not announced, after the negotiations, it was said that the transfer of 4 additional HIMARS from the USA, as well as shells for MLRS and artillery, which Ukraine previously received from Western countries.
Reference
International negotiations on supporting Ukraine in russia's war were organized at the initiative of the USA.
The first meeting at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on April 26 brought together representatives of the defense departments of 43 countries. As a result, a Consultative Group (UDCG) was formed, and it was decided to meet monthly.
The allies communicated online for the second time on May 23. After the conference, the head of the Pentagon, Lloyd Austin, announced that 20 countries had decided to provide military aid to Ukraine.
The Ramstein-3 negotiations took place on June 15 in Brussels. Representatives of about 50 countries participated (Georgia and Moldova joined). Its result was the supply of long-range HIMARS, M270, and other weapons, which significantly affected the change in the situation at the front.
On July 20, Ramstein-4 gathered 50 participants online. Thirty of them supplied weapons for the needs of the Ukrainian military.
On August 24, the USA allocated a record military aid package to Ukraine worth $3 billion. It included 6 NASAMS air defense systems and ammunition, 155-mm artillery shells, radars, and new Puma reconnaissance drones.
