“Given Russia’s ongoing aggression against Ukraine, we must acknowledge that peace in Ukraine appears out of reach for the foreseeable future,” Pistorius said at a press conference following the latest Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, also known as the Ramstein format.
At the same time, Pistorius promised continued support for Kyiv.
“Russia must understand that Ukraine is capable of continuing the fight, and we will continue to support them,” he said.
The April 11 meeting in Brussels was co-chaired by the defense ministers of Germany and the United Kingdom. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said ahead of the talks that air defense would be a top priority, including the delivery of additional Patriot missile systems.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy also emphasized that strengthening Ukraine’s air defense capabilities remains the country’s key focus at Ramstein.
During the meeting, Pistorius announced a new German military aid package for Ukraine, including four additional IRIS-T air defense systems with missiles. He also noted that Germany recently provided 30 more missiles for Ukraine’s existing Patriot systems.
The previous Ramstein-format meeting took place on Feb. 12 and was chaired by the United Kingdom — marking a shift from the traditional U.S.-led format. According to Defense News, the American delegation may now be represented only by lower-ranking diplomats.