UK to convene Ramstein instead of US: Key date revealed
UK Defence Secretary John Healey (Photo: Getty Images)
The United Kingdom convenes another meeting in the Ramstein format. The Contact Group will gather at NATO headquarters in Brussels on February 12, according to the United Kingdom’s Joint Delegation to NATO.
"Defence Secretary John Healey will convene the Ukraine Defence Contact Group at NATO HQ in Brussels on February 12," the statement said.
It is noted that the meeting will take place before the NATO defense ministers' gathering to discuss priorities for Ukraine.
The Ramstein format was established in the spring of 2022 following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The first meeting of Ukraine’s partners took place at the US airbase Ramstein in Germany, where they discussed military aid.
Meetings are held both in person and online, usually chaired by the U.S. Secretary of Defense. However, this time, the meeting will be chaired by the United Kingdom.
Ramstein meeting
The last meeting in the Ramstein format took place on January 9, 2025, before Donald Trump officially became the President of the United States. At the time, there were concerns that the format might be restructured after Trump’s inauguration.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy assured that the continuation of Ramstein was not questioned.
It should be noted that even before the elections, Trump advocated for reducing military aid to Ukraine. He also stated that aid should be a loan rather than a "gift."
Additionally, the US President has grievances against other NATO members, particularly some EU countries. Trump wants defense spending to be increased to 5% of GDP, while some European countries have yet to reach the 2% threshold.
