German Defence Minister Will Consider Changing Ramstein Format If Us Withdraws 2025 01 09
ReutersJan 08
Germany Pledges Further Support for Ukraine
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Above: German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius at a press conference at the 25th Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Ramstein-Miesenbach, Germany, on Jan. 9, 2025. Image copyright: Marijan Murat/Picture Alliance/Contributor via Getty Images
The Facts
At the meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) on Thursday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced the immediate provision of additional IRIS-T guided missiles to Ukraine — originally intended for the German military — to help counter Russian air attacks.
UDCG is comprised of approximately 50 allies, and has met regularly at Ramstein Air Base in Germany since 2022 to coordinate arms deliveries to Ukraine.
Pistorius has also pledged to deploy 200 soldiers and two Patriot air-defense batteries to Poland to protect a NATO logistics hub supporting Ukraine, with an estimated six-month deployment period.
The Spin
Narrative A
The UDCG format must continue under American leadership to maintain effective coordination of military support for Ukraine. Any disruption to the group could weaken the efficacy of its collective response to Russian aggression, leaving Kyiv unnecessarily vulnerable.
Narrative B
European allies are prepared to maintain support for Ukraine independently of the US if necessary, as the collective power of the UDCG remains crucial to preventing Russia from becoming the dominant global power. Whatever line is taken by the Trump administration, Ukraine can stay confident in the support of its European allies.
Pro-Russia narrative
Arming Kyiv is a fruitless endeavor. The US and Europe are wasting billions through their intervention in the Ukrainian conflict. Despite the weapons and money streaming into Kiev, Ukraine continues to lose to Russia. President Vladimir Putin was right from the beginning, when he warned the West at the Munich meeting in 2007 against expanding NATO into Ukraine.
