Ukraine Defense Contact Group

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A map showing Ukraine Defense Contact Group members and others providing military aid to Ukraine Ukraine Defense Contact Group.svg
A map showing Ukraine Defense Contact Group members and others providing military aid to Ukraine

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG, also known as the Ramstein group [1] [2] ) is an alliance of 57 countries (all 32 member states of NATO and 25 other countries) and the European Union supporting the defence of Ukraine by sending military equipment in response to the 2022 Russian invasion. [3] The group coordinates the ongoing donation of military aid at monthly meetings. [4] A first meeting took place between 41 countries on 26 April 2022, and the coalition comprised 54 countries at the time of the 14 February 2023 meeting. [5] As of November 2023 reports of meetings usually state "more than 50" or "about 50" members. [6]

Contents

Meetings

Inaugural Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on 26 April 2022 2022 Ramstein meeting.jpg
Inaugural Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting on 26 April 2022

At the 20 January 2023 meeting at Ramstein Air Base, leading to the group thereafter being referred to as the "Ramstein Group", the alliance supported sending heavy offensive weaponry to Ukraine, in support of a planned spring offensive. [7] [8] The possible transfer of German-made Leopard 2 main battle tanks from Poland was a sticking point at the January 2023 meeting and in bilateral discussions following this. [9] Germany continued to delay Leopard tank exports until 25 January 2023 when it announced it would provide 14 of its own Leopard 2A6 tanks in tandem with the United States providing 31 M1 Abrams tanks. [10] By 25 February, 71 Leopard 2 tanks had been formally committed for delivery to Ukraine from Germany (18), Portugal (3), Sweden (10), Poland (14), Spain (10), Norway (8), and Canada (8); the first four arrived in Ukraine on 24 February. Additionally, a joint German-Danish-Dutch initiative was announced on 7 February to supply 100–178 Leopard 1A5 tanks from FFG and Rheinmetall stocks. [11]

At the 14 February conference, the main topic of discussion was the transfer of modern fighter jets to Ukraine. [12] The two subsequent meetings included considering how to finance an increase in industrial capacity to sustainably replace ammunition and equipment sent to Ukraine into the future. [13]

The 11 October 2023 meeting took place after the 2023 Israel–Hamas war had started. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended, and was given assurances military aid would be sustained, although Zelenskyy acknowledged there was uncertainty. Zelenskiy emphasised the need for winter air defence. [14] NBC News later reported that officials at the meeting had begun confidential and delicate talks with the Ukrainian officials about what the broad outlines of possible peace negotiations might entail, according to two U.S. participants. [15]

The 23 January 2024 meeting concluded without any US funding, only from France, and Germany in the face of obstacles to funding in the US Congress. [16] [17]

Meetings list

DateLocationNote
1 26 April 2022 Ramstein Air Base [18]
223 May 2022Virtual [19]
315 June 2022 NATO headquarters [20]
420 July 2022Virtual [21]
58 September 2022Ramstein Air Base [22]
612 October 2022NATO headquarters [23]
716 November 2022Virtual [24]
820 January 2023Ramstein Air Base [25] [26]
914 February 2023NATO headquarters [27]
1015 March 2023Virtual [28]
1121 April 2023Ramstein Air Base [29] [30]
1225 May 2023Virtual [31]
1315 June 2023NATO headquarters [32]
1418 July 2023Virtual [33]
1519 September 2023Ramstein Air Base [34]
1611 October 2023NATO headquarters [35]
1722 November 2023Virtual [6]
1823 January 2024Virtual [36]
1914 February 2024NATO headquarters [37]
2019 March 2024Ramstein Air Base [38]
2126 April 2024Virtual [39]
2220 May 2024Virtual [40]
2313 June 2024NATO headquarters [41]
246 September 2024Ramstein Air Base [42]
2512 October 2024Ramstein Air Base [43] [44]

Subgroups

Eight capability coalitions have been formed within UDCG: [45] [46]

A total of 16 countries are involved in the fighter program. Belgium, Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands have committed to supply aircraft to Ukraine. So far, the US has declined to supply its own F-16s, which are produced in America. Morris Air National Guard Base in Arizona, The 86th “Lieutenant Aviator Gheorghe Mociorniță” Air Base in Borcea, Romania; Skrydstrup Air Base in southern Denmark and undisclosed UK location are used for pilot training. [47]

Members and partners

The following is a list of nations/organizations confirmed to have had a representative attend at least one Contact Group meeting:

The following countries' participation in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group are not publicly confirmed, though they are confirmed to have provided military aid (lethal and non-lethal) to Ukraine:

NATO–Ukraine Council

NATO plans to invite Ukraine as an equal member into a new organization, the NATO–Ukraine Council. [52] This organization was announced at NATO's July 2023 summit in Vilnius, Lithuania. [52]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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  6. 1 2 Ukrainska Pravda (22 November 2023) Pentagon chief opens Ramstein meeting and calls for Ukraine's air defence to be strengthened
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  17. ↑ Newsweek (25 Jan 2024) NATO Ally Proposes Taurus Missile Solution for Ukraine Archived 29 January 2024 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ↑ "Equipment Sent to Ukraine Having an Effect on Battlefields". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  19. ↑ "Austin Hosts Ukraine Defense Contact Group to Continue Support for Beleaguered Country". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  20. ↑ "More Than 50 Nations Pledge to Help Build Ukraine's Defense". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  21. ↑ "Defense Leaders Meet to Bolster Ukraine Support". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  22. ↑ "Contact Group Aids Ukraine's Current Battle, Looks to Long-Term Assistance". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  23. ↑ "Allies Are Unified in Support for Ukraine Ahead of NATO Meetings, Defense Official Says". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
  24. ↑ "Ukraine Contact Group Is Key to Helping Ukraine's Defense". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-01-13.
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  28. ↑ Lloyd J. Austin (15 March 2023) Opening Remarks by Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III at the Tenth Ukraine Defense Contact Group (As Delivered)
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  32. ↑ "Secretary of Defense, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs to Visit Germany, Brussels and NATO for Ukraine Defense Contact Group and Defense Ministerial Meetings". U.S. Department of Defense. 12 June 2023. Retrieved 1 July 2023.
  33. ↑ "Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Call With Ukrainian Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-07-18.
  34. ↑ "Austin Makes Call to New Counterpart in Ukraine". U.S. Department of Defense. Retrieved 2023-09-15.
  35. ↑ "NATO Defence Ministers meet to discuss Ukraine, deterrence and defence, Kosovo and the Middle East". NATO. Retrieved 2023-10-11.
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  37. ↑ "NATO Defence Ministers to address defence spending, ammunition production, support to Ukraine". NATO. Retrieved 2024-02-15.
  38. ↑ "U.S. Vows to Continue Support for Ukraine, Despite Funding Doubts". New York Times. Retrieved 2024-03-19.
  39. ↑ "US to provide new Patriot missiles for Ukraine as part of additional $6bn aid package". Irish Times Times. Retrieved 2024-04-27.
  40. ↑ https://www.gov.pl/web/national-defence/22-meeting-of-the-ukraine-defense-contact-group
  41. ↑ https://www.canada.ca/en/department-national-defence/news/2024/06/minister-blair-announces-additional-military-assistance-for-ukraine-at-the-23rd-meeting-of-the-ukraine-defense-contact-group.html
  42. ↑ https://www.voanews.com/amp/zelenskyy-meets-top-military-leaders-in-germany-as-the-us-announces-additional-aid-to-ukraine/7773768.html
  43. ↑ https://www.rttnews.com/amp/3477978/ukraine-defense-contact-group-to-meet-in-germany-on-october-12.aspx
  44. ↑ https://www.ukrinform.net/amp/rubric-ato/3913068-zelensky-steps-towards-just-end-to-war-will-be-presented-at-ramstein-meeting.html
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  46. ↑ "Eight capability coalitions are rushing arms to Ukraine. Here's who will donate what. (EXPLAINER)". Breakingdefense. 2024-07-22. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  47. ↑ "Eight capability coalitions are rushing arms to Ukraine. Here's who will donate what. (EXPLAINER)". Breakingdefense. 2024-07-22. Archived from the original on 2024-07-21. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
  48. 1 2 Pro-Ukraine alliance pledges more military aid. 11 October 2023. DW News. "The UDCG includes all 31 NATO member states alongside 23 further nations in support of Ukraine such as Australia, Japan, Pakistan, Kenya and Cambodia".
  49. ↑ Goldstein, Tani. "Israeli defense firm selling anti-drone systems to Ukraine by way of Poland". www.timesofisrael.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2022. Retrieved 2022-09-26.
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  52. 1 2 David Vergun, DOD News (16 Jun 2023) NATO-Ukraine Defense Council to Be Established Archived 19 June 2023 at the Wayback Machine
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