Will new US Defense secretary announce aid for Ukraine at Ramstein meeting?
Photo: Pete Hegseth, Pentagon chief (Getty Images)
New US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will take part in this week’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting (Ramstein meeting). However, he is unlikely to announce new military aid for Ukrainian army, according to The Washington Post.
Hegseth will attend the Ramstein meeting scheduled for tomorrow, February 12, at NATO headquarters in Brussels. For the first time since the start of the full-scale war, the meeting was convened not by the US but by the UK.
According to The Washington Post, no announcements on new military aid to Ukraine are expected from Hagseth. A senior US official told the outlet that the Pentagon chief does not plan separate meetings with Ukrainian counterparts and will primarily be a listener at the Ramstein meeting, as well as at the NATO defense ministerial meeting on Thursday, February 13.
"The Secretary will reiterate President Trump’s commitment for a diplomatic end to the war in Ukraine as quickly as possible. He will also highlight the need for increased European leadership on security assistance to Ukraine," the Pentagon stated ahead of his departure.
A senior NATO diplomat told The Washington Post that constructive dialogue with the new US administration, as well as the US commitment to do everything possible to keep Ukraine fighting, will be "the most important outcome" of the meeting.
Hegseth's participation in the Ramstein meeting
It was reported last week that the new Pentagon chief, Pete Hegseth, plans to participate in the Ramstein meeting.
In addition to Belgium, he will also visit Germany and Poland. The Secretary of Defense is expected to discuss Russia's war against Ukraine and the need for Europe to play a leading role in helping Ukraine.
