vDefense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced a German aid package worth almost half a billion euros for Ukraine at the Ramstein meeting on Tuesday. This included 10,000 rounds of ammunition from the Bundeswehr's stocks. “The delivery will begin shortly – actually immediately,” said Pistorius. In addition, Germany will cover the cost of 180,000 rounds of ammunition as part of the Czech initiative to procure 155 mm caliber artillery shells for Ukraine on the world market. This delivery will take place in stages and will begin in the summer, said Pistorius. In addition, Germany has “contracted nationally” 100,000 rounds of this caliber. Delivery should begin this year.
At the invitation of the American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, the so-called Ukraine Contact Group is meeting again at the US Air Force Base Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate to coordinate military support for Ukraine in its defensive battle against Russia. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will also take part in the meeting.
Defense Minister Pistorius also announced the delivery of additional vehicles in Ramstein “in order to sustainably strengthen mobility on the battlefield and logistical endurance.” According to Pistorius, this includes, among other things, 100 protected infantry vehicles and 100 “high-performance” logistical vehicles. In addition, Germany continually supplies spare parts for systems that have already been delivered. “The best weapons are of no use if sustainability is not ensured.” In addition, there is medical material “on a large scale”.
In addition, the “air defense coalition” for Ukraine, led by Germany and France, is making progress. A few days ago, Norway joined the group, said Pistorius, which means that 15 countries now belong to the group. “We want and will work together to ensure that Ukraine can expand its air defense capabilities in the future so that it can defend and also effectively deter.” Interoperability with Western partners is important. This is an important finding of the war in Ukraine. Ukraine is repelling the Russian attack day after day in an “admirable way”. It is important that it is not the law of the strongest that prevails, but rather “the strength of the law”.
No details on rocket artillery coalition
Pistorius was unable to provide any details about the coalition for “long-range rocket artillery” previously announced by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). When asked by the FAZ, he said that it was about artillery pieces and multiple rocket launchers “and more”. Pistorius did not explain which specific weapon systems were involved: It was still at the very beginning, this coalition was only agreed upon last Friday “and now the concrete work begins.” He will hold the first discussions about this next Friday with the French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
US Secretary of State Austin had previously emphasized that Washington would continue to support Kiev. “We won’t let you down,” Austin said not a day should be wasted. A victory by Russian President Vladimir Putin would also have an impact on the security of the West, Austin said at the start of the meeting. “Putin will not stop after Ukraine.” But Ukraine could stop Russia militarily.
Although a $60 billion aid package for Ukraine is currently stuck in the US Congress, Austin assured: “The USA will not let Ukraine fail.” Everything must be done to ensure that Putin is not successful with his “imperial plans”. . “This coalition will not let Ukraine fail, the free world will not let Ukraine fail.”
Austin announced that the Ukraine Contact Group would continue to find “creative and sustainable” ways to shore up Ukraine’s defenses. “We will move forward at full speed to give Ukraine the much-needed capabilities to build an army that can provide long-term security.”
Austin praises Czech initiative
The American Secretary of Defense praised the Czech initiative to procure urgently needed ammunition for Ukraine on the world market. The issue of ammunition will be an important topic at the Ramstein conference; Ukraine is currently struggling with, among other things, an acute shortage of artillery shells. Austin also said that Germany, Denmark, Sweden and France had each recently announced “important” military packages. These are investments in the Ukrainian fight against the aggressor, but also “in our security”.
Austin emphasized the “unity” of the West, which has recently been in doubt. There were disagreements, particularly between France and Germany. French President Emmanuel Macron recently appeared open to deploying Western ground troops in the attacked country. Chancellor Scholz rejects this and has so far resisted handing over the powerful Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.
Last week, France, Germany and Poland demonstrated unity at a meeting in the format of the Weimar Triangle. They said they were serious about supporting Ukraine. Chancellor Scholz announced the new coalition for “long-range rocket artillery”.