Pentagon announces key focus areas for 25th Ramstein meeting, calls it "milestone" event

US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Germany to attend the 25th Ramstein meeting, a series of high-level discussions crucial to coordinating international support for Ukraine.

According to the Pentagon, these meetings, held since April 2022, have played a pivotal role in uniting nations to aid Ukraine in its defence efforts, per Caliber.Az.

The Pentagon described the upcoming 25th meeting as a "milestone" event in the ongoing efforts to bolster Ukraine's military capabilities. During this meeting, Austin will engage with defence ministers and senior military officials from various coalition nations.

Key topics at the Ramstein gathering, set to take place at Ramstein Air Force Base, will include:

• Ukraine’s immediate needs on the battlefield
• Long-term defence requirements
• Coordination among the coalitions to ensure the continued supply of critical capabilities, such as air defence systems, artillery munitions, and armoured vehicles

The US Department of Defence also emphasized the importance of strengthening the defence industrial base during the discussions.

On January 7, two senior Pentagon officials told the media that Austin intends to bring together leaders from eight coalition groups at Ramstein to develop a comprehensive defence strategy for Ukraine. This will focus on building a credible deterrent force for Ukraine through 2027.

The Pentagon explained that the Ramstein format includes a steering group made up of eight coalitions, each led by at least two NATO countries, focused on different aspects of Ukraine's military needs.

Despite this being Austin’s final Ramstein meeting as Pentagon chief, the US Department of Defence reassured that the coalition’s work will continue beyond his tenure.

The Associated Press reported that during Austin's visit to Germany, the US is expected to announce a significant new package of military aid to Ukraine.

By Tamilla Hasanova