Ukraine overhauls Ramstein meetings for clearer donor tracking

Ukraine is working to restructure Ramstein meetings to create a clearer system for tracking which countries are making specific contributions, Alyona Getmanchuk, Head of the Ukrainian Mission to NATO, said.

In an interview with RBC-Ukraine, she emphasised that despite the leadership of the UK and Germany within the group, there arose a need for “more active daily work, coordination, and support,” including organisational oversight, Caliber.Az reports.

“This is why we are talking about a kind of coordination office with NATO involvement, created so that the group’s work is not limited to the meetings where countries announce contributions and then leave until the next session,” Getmanchuk explained.

She noted that until now, no one monitored or encouraged countries to fulfil their commitments. Getmanchuk expressed surprise that the same countries repeatedly announced the same contributions at successive meetings, even though these contributions were expected to be “completed.”

“Yes, we are very grateful to all countries for their previous contributions. Yes, it is important for us to see how they were implemented. But if a country takes the floor to announce a new contribution, it must genuinely be new. There are many such issues. That is why we are now calling this a reform,” she said.

Getmanchuk added that Ukraine would like the next Ramstein meeting at NATO headquarters to follow this new approach: “It should be clear who has fulfilled their previous commitments and what new contributions will be made. It is also more important than ever that these contributions align with the priorities set by Ukraine.”

The Ramstein format, named after the first sessions held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany, refers to regular 2022-established coordination meetings of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which bring together over 50 allied and partner countries to coordinate military assistance to Ukraine amid the Russian invasion.

These meetings are not a formal NATO body but often occur alongside NATO activities and involve high-level defence officials from NATO states and partners.

Within the format, participants agree on strategic roadmaps, prioritise Ukraine’s defence needs, and coordinate contributions such as weapons, air defence systems, and logistical support to strengthen Ukraine’s military capabilities against Russia’s full‑scale invasion.

By Jeyhun Aghazada