Ammunition but no Taurus missiles: results of the 20th Ramstein
19 March 2024 20:30
Today, 19 March, the 20th anniversary meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine’s Defence took place at the Ramstein base in Germany in a face-to-face format. The meeting discussed Ukraine’s urgent needs for weapons and announced new assistance packages.
Kommersant ukrainskyi
tells more about the results of the 20th “Ramstein”.
Clear support for Ukraine
At the opening of the meeting, Lloyd Austin, chairman of the Contact Group, outlined Russia’s human and economic losses in the war against Ukraine. According to him, Russia has already spent $211 billion on fighting, and another $1.3 trillion is potential losses due to the fall of the Russian economy.
The Pentagon chief reiterated that the US message is absolutely clear: “we will not allow Ukraine to lose, our coalition and the entire free world will not allow this to happen”.
Austin also stated that in two years, the Ukraine Defence Contact Group has managed to raise $88 billion in military support, and the group members are now focusing on two areas: meeting the immediate needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the battlefield, and providing assistance for the long term.
The Ukrainian delegation to Ramstein was headed by Defence Minister Rustem Umerov.
According to the ministry, the priorities for Ukraine at this meeting were the provision of air defence systems and missiles for them, long-range missiles, artillery shells, especially 155 mm calibre, modern electronic warfare and electronic warfare systems, and armoured vehicles.
What kind of assistance did the allies promise?
Germany
Germany has announced a new military aid package for Ukraine worth €500 million, but without the long-range Taurus missiles.
When asked by the media about the prospects of supplying Ukraine with Taurus missiles with a range of about 500 km, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said that “there is no news”. At the same time, he stressed that there is progress in the supply of ammunition.
It is planned that Germany will provide 10,000 artillery shells from the Bundeswehr’s stockpile as part of this package. In addition, it will include 100 infantry fighting vehicles and 100 transport vehicles.
It also became known that the German side will finance the purchase of 180,000 shells as part of the Czech initiative.
Finland
Finland has announced that it will join the Czech initiative to supply ammunition to Ukraine and has pledged to allocate 30 million euros for this purpose.
Finland also donated combat boats for Ukraine, which will be delivered via Romania. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has already approved the transit. The number and specific type of vessels have not been disclosed.
Iohannis also approved the training of about 50 Ukrainian soldiers in Romania, who will be taught how to use the boats.
Belgium
It became known that on 15 March, the Belgian government approved a large package of additional military aid for Ukraine worth €412 million.
It is reported that three Alkmaar-class mine countermeasures ships will be provided in cooperation with the Netherlands. Belgium will provide basic training at the naval academy, maintenance of the minesweepers to ensure their seaworthiness and efficiency, and the Netherlands will provide on-the-job training for the crews.
The second part of the package involves the purchase of armoured ambulances as part of a joint initiative of the Benelux countries. It is reported that they will be upgraded before being handed over.
In addition, a joint purchase of reconnaissance drones and the transfer of about 300 Lynx Light Multirole Vehicle (LMV) armoured vehicles are planned.
Canada
Canada will allocate 40 million Canadian dollars (about $30 million) to the Czech initiative to purchase artillery shells for Ukraine outside the EU.
According to him, these funds will allow for the urgent delivery of several thousand rounds of ammunition to Ukraine.
Blair added that Canada will also provide the Ukrainian Armed Forces with night vision devices worth $5.7 million.
Canada has also officially joined the Drone Coalition, led by Latvia and the United Kingdom.
