General Staff: Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine has transitioned to Ramstein 2.0 format
In September 2023, the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defense actually transitioned to the Ramstein 2.0 format, meaning that it moved from addressing immediate needs to more systematic, more planned, and more long-term work.
Colonel of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Hennadii Kovalenko, in reference to US Deputy Secretary of Defense Celeste Wallander, said this at a briefing on November 23, summarizing the results of the 17th meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine's Defense in the Ramstein format, Censor.NET reports with reference to Suspilne.
As Kovalenko explained, "Ramstein 2.0" is a transition from meeting immediate needs to more systematic, more planned and more long-term work.
"This means that the creation of a coalition of capabilities has been announced. Currently, there are five of them. Aviation, air defense, tank, artillery and maritime security coalition. Each of these five coalitions, strategic coalitions, is led by one or two states. Each coalition includes from five to twenty other countries," Kovalenko explained.
According to him, if you look at the activities of the Ramstein format itself, we are actually talking about project management, only at a more strategic level.
"Goals, objectives, measures and control over their implementation. By the way, I know that it will be a question of how we track the provision of this or that assistance. I even have one that I keep with me. This is from the 15th Ramstein, the first for me and for the new Minister of Defense. We have columns here: the country, the agreements and the state of their implementation. And we can see that it is completed in green, and in blue - it is in progress," Kovalenko said.
According to Illarion Pavliuk, head of the press and information department at the Ministry of Defense, this sign is currently almost completely green.
According to Pavliuk, the Ministry of Defense regards Ramstein-17 as extremely successful.
"We are extremely pleased with how involved and interested partners are in the process of supporting Ukraine. In particular, it is very important that yesterday our key partner, the United States, namely the United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, actually removed any speculation that the United States allegedly has to choose between Israel and Ukraine," Pavliuk said.
He said that twice there was a very clear statement that there could be no choice. The United States stands by Israel, but at the same time is fully committed to all of its commitments to support Ukraine.
Also, according to Pavliuk, a powerful statement in support of Ukraine was made by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius.
"And in general, all those non-public statements, which, unfortunately, I have no right to quote, they testified not only to deep support but also to an excellent understanding by partners of why they support Ukraine. And understanding, in particular, of the aspect that this support is needed not only by Ukraine, it is needed by the civilized world and their countries need it as well," Pavliuk said.
