Defense Minister announces date of next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting

According to Shmyhal, in addition to the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, he will soon hold talks with the defense ministers of the G7 countries.

"Ramstein (Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting - ed.) on Monday will be more technical and coordination-focused," the defense minister said.

What is the Ukraine Defense Contact Group?

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, commonly known as the Ramstein format, brings together over 50 countries that coordinate efforts to support Ukraine in countering Russian aggression.

The group, initiated by the US, first convened on April 26, 2022, at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, which is where the format gets its name.

Within this platform, numerous decisions have been made to supply Ukraine with modern Western weapons. Thanks to Ukraine Defense Contact Group, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have received, among other things, HIMARS rocket systems, Patriot air defense systems, Leopard 2 and Abrams tanks, as well as other military equipment.

The previous meeting took place on June 4. For the first time since the group was established, the US had no representative present. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who missed the meeting, later had to explain his absence to the media.

Shmyhal’s appointment

On July 17, the Verkhovna Rada appointed former Prime Minister Shmyhal as Defense Minister following a nomination by President Zelenskyy.

At that time, Shmyhal identified three key areas he plans to focus on in his new role: personnel, weaponry, and the operational system of the Ministry of Defense.

Today, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with Shmyhal and instructed him to urgently finalize all necessary contracts for drones needed by Ukraine’s Defense Forces.