The Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) held its 25th meeting in Ramstein, Germany. The participating countries in the coalition reaffirmed their commitment to doing everything necessary to ensure Ukraine continues receiving vital humanitarian and military aid. This will help strengthen Ukraine's position when peace talks, led by Ukraine, begin to address the ongoing conflict.
The meeting, organized by U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, was attended by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and representatives from 50 countries supporting Ukraine. Albania was represented by Deputy Minister of Defense Dorian Tola.
Thanks to the support of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, over $126 billion in assistance has been provided so far, with Ukraine receiving crucial supplies to defend itself against Russia's relentless aggression. These include tanks, air defense systems, combat vehicles, ammunition, F-16 fighter jets, and pilot training.
In his speech, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized, "We must do everything possible to ensure Ukraine has what it needs, both in terms of training and equipment, to prevail in this war." He also pointed out that the ongoing war in Ukraine has direct consequences for global security.
The Defense Ministers approved a coalition capability roadmap, led by 14 countries and Ukraine. This plan presents an efficient and sustainable approach to meeting Ukraine's immediate and long-term needs, focusing on areas such as air forces, armored vehicles, artillery, demining, drones, information technology, integrated air and missile defense, and maritime security.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the group members reiterated their unwavering support for Ukraine's sovereignty and their commitment to contributing to global security and stability.
