UK Defence Minister John Healey arrived in Kyiv, where he was greeted by Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. During the meeting, the parties discussed key issues related to the upcoming meeting of the Contact Group in the “Ramstein” format, which will take place in London, as well as joint defence projects aimed at strengthening the security of both countries.
This is reported by Kyiv24
“We will coordinate the main issues for the next meeting in the ‘Ramstein’ format, which will be held in London, and joint defence projects. We are preparing important bilateral decisions that will enhance the defence capabilities of our countries,” Shmyhal wrote on the social network X, sharing a video of Healey’s meeting at the railway station in Kyiv.
Main Priorities of Defence Cooperation
Earlier, Denys Shmyhal and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, emphasized that for Ukraine, the most important aspect is ensuring modern air defence systems and a sufficient supply of ammunition. These issues were at the center of previous meetings in the “Ramstein” format.
At the last meeting, which took place on July 21, the Defence Ministers of Germany and the UK, Boris Pistorius and John Healey, presented a joint plan to strengthen Ukraine’s air defence. Healey emphasized that the UK plans to provide Ukraine with over £4.5 billion in military aid in 2025, which will be a record amount in the history of cooperation between the countries.
Upcoming “Ramstein” Meeting in London
On September 9, the thirtieth meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the “Ramstein” format will take place in London. This group brings together about 50 countries that coordinate military assistance to Ukraine, identifying the most pressing needs to counter Russian aggression. Important decisions regarding further support for Ukraine from international partners are expected to be made at this meeting.