Germany, UK to lead NATO contact group on Ukraine military supplies

Germany and Britain are set to convene a contact group on military supplies to Ukraine at NATO headquarters on April 11, according to a statement from the alliance’s press service.

The scheduled meeting marks a significant shift in NATO’s usual proceedings.

Traditionally, the contact group meetings had been held on the sidelines of NATO’s larger ministerial meetings, but with the US stepping down from its role as chair of the group at the end of 2024, this meeting will stand on its own.

“On April 11, the UK and Germany will convene a contact group meeting on military supplies to Ukraine at NATO headquarters,” the statement read, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

A NATO official explained that this is a departure from the past, where contact group discussions were always tied to the broader foreign ministers' meetings.

A NATO foreign ministers' meeting is already scheduled for April 3-4, but the focus of that gathering is expected to be on strengthening transatlantic relations, particularly in light of the US administration under Donald Trump. This will be the first NATO meeting to be attended by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and the situation in Ukraine is expected to take a backseat to the discussions on US-European NATO relations.

In addition, a meeting of the “coalition of the willing” — a group of countries planning to take part in the Western military mission in Ukraine after the conflict's resolution — is scheduled for April 10 at NATO headquarters in Brussels. The British mission to NATO confirmed this gathering. The coalition of the willing represents countries committed to supporting Ukraine’s military efforts post-conflict, signaling further shifts in NATO’s approach to the ongoing war.

This is a new development in NATO's practice, as such meetings at the alliance’s headquarters are typically announced by member states, rather than the organization itself. It remains unclear whether the US will participate in either of these meetings, especially considering the shifting roles within NATO.

For now, NATO’s focus will be on strengthening relations among its members and continuing support for Ukraine, but the April 10 and 11 meetings will be pivotal in outlining the next steps in the alliance's military and diplomatic strategies.