Ramstein 2.0: The second meeting of defense ministers about Ukraine took place

A virtual meeting of the Defense Ministers of the Contact Group about Ukraine took place. This is the second meeting after the contact group live discussion at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

This time the 40 participants were joined by other countries – Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Colombia, Ireland and Kosovo. CNN reports about this.

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov, the deputy commander in chief of Ukraine’s armed forces and Ukraine’s defense intelligence representative joined the virtual meeting.

The meeting was opened by Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin.

He reiterated the effective actions of Australia, Canada and the UK which have provided military equipment to Ukraine.

It is noted that Australia and Canada “committed to providing M777 Howitzers, and in just four weeks, all those systems have been delivered to the Ukrainians.”

The UK also delivered Brimstone missiles and a new short-range defense system.

Other countries have joined important military training missions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and these efforts are “really making difference now”

The current meeting is split into three sessions. The session one is focused on updated information about current hostilities. The second involves discussing military supplies to Ukraine. The third is dedicated to Ukraine’s priority needs.

Previously, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported that Ukraine is expecting a decision on MLRS provision to be announced at the Ramstein-2 meeting.

“Such meetings are already a positive outcome. We expect a positive decision on MLRS (multiple rocket launcher – ed.) supply. I have no secrets. We call on all countries to supply MLRS systems, due to which Ukraine will be able to take the initiative and liberate its territory,” he said.

He addressed the representatives of the countries that are cautious about providing Ukraine with the respective weapons, allegedly because they could be used to attack the Russian Federation.

Zelensky also stated that the Russian Federation was blackmailing the countries of the world at various levels because of MLRS supply to Ukraine.