Latest news with #RamsteinGroup
Reuters
04-07-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Germany in talks to buy Patriot missiles for Ukraine after US pause
BERLIN, July 4 (Reuters) - Germany is in talks on buying Patriot air defence systems for Ukraine to help it counter some of the heaviest Russian attacks since the war began in 2022, a government spokesperson said on Friday. The U.S. has paused shipments of certain critical weapons to Ukraine including 30 Patriot air defence missiles, sources told Reuters this week, due to low stockpiles, prompting warnings by Kyiv this would weaken its ability to defend itself. "There are various ways to fill this Patriot gap," the spokesperson told a news conference in Berlin, adding that one option being considered is buying the Patriot missile batteries in the United States and then sending them on to Kyiv. "I can confirm that intensive discussions are indeed being held on this matter," he said. Germany has sent three of the U.S.-made systems from its military stocks to Ukraine, and Defence Minister Boris Pistorius last month launched an initiative to chase down more of them at the Ramstein group of some 50 nations. Pistorius will travel to Washington later this month for talks with his U.S. counterpart about his initiative as well as production capacities, said a defence ministry spokesperson. "Of course these issues will also be on the agenda," said the spokesperson. The U.S. Embassy in Berlin was not immediately available for comment. Pistorius has floated the idea of buying Patriot systems that could be freed up to bypass long industrial delivery times and ensure they get to Ukraine quickly. Ukraine is increasingly desperate for the systems that it relies on to destroy fast-moving ballistic missiles. Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people, just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Germany, Ukraine's second largest donor after the United States, has sought to take on more of a leadership role in ensuring backing for Kyiv as U.S. support has been thrown into question under Trump. While Europe could sustain Ukraine's resistance without U.S. military support, according to a senior German military official, the challenges would be immense. Germany has provided a total of 38 billion euros ($43 billion) worth of military aid to Ukraine, including funds earmarked for the coming years, according to the defence ministry. A Bloomberg News report on Friday said Germany is preparing a 25-billion-euro tank order to ramp up its NATO brigades. The defence ministry had no immediate comment.
Arab News
04-07-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Germany in talks to buy Patriot missiles for Ukraine after US pause
BERLIN: Germany is in talks on buying Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine to help it counter some of the heaviest Russian attacks since the war began in 2022, a government spokesperson said on Friday. The US has paused shipments of certain critical weapons to Ukraine including 30 Patriot air defense missiles, sources told Reuters this week, due to low stockpiles, prompting warnings by Kyiv this would weaken its ability to defend itself. 'There are various ways to fill this Patriot gap,' the spokesperson told a news conference in Berlin, adding that one option being considered is buying the Patriot missile batteries in the United States and then sending them on to Kyiv. 'I can confirm that intensive discussions are indeed being held on this matter,' he said. Germany has sent three of the US-made systems from its military stocks to Ukraine, and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius last month launched an initiative to chase down more of them at the Ramstein group of some 50 nations. Pistorius will travel to Washington later this month for talks with his US counterpart about his initiative as well as production capacities, said a defense ministry spokesperson. 'Of course these issues will also be on the agenda,' said the spokesperson. The US Embassy in Berlin was not immediately available for comment. Pistorius has floated the idea of buying Patriot systems that could be freed up to bypass long industrial delivery times and ensure they get to Ukraine quickly. Ukraine is increasingly desperate for the systems that it relies on to destroy fast-moving ballistic missiles. Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war, injuring at least 23 people, just hours after US President Donald Trump spoke to Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday. Germany, Ukraine's second largest donor after the United States, has sought to take on more of a leadership role in ensuring backing for Kyiv as US support has been thrown into question under Trump. While Europe could sustain Ukraine's resistance without US military support, according to a senior German military official, the challenges would be immense. Germany has provided a total of 38 billion euros ($43 billion) worth of military aid to Ukraine, including funds earmarked for the coming years, according to the defense ministry. A Bloomberg News report on Friday said Germany is preparing a 25-billion-euro tank order to ramp up its NATO brigades. The defense ministry had no immediate comment.
Qatar Tribune
04-06-2025
- Politics
- Qatar Tribune
Ukraine allies pledge continued support
dpa Brussels Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting. The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev. The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth €400 million ($457 million). The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said. Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question. Hegseth did not attend the meeting, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings. Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final.
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine relying on increased weapons production abroad
The Ukrainian government is relying on increased production in collaboration with European partners for the supply of weapons and ammunition, the country's defence minister said on Wednesday. Rustem Umerov said there is also interest in having Ukrainian arms companies manufacture newly developed systems outside the country. He made his comments after a meeting of the Ukraine Contact Group - also known as the Ramstein Group - in Brussels. These weapons should be delivered to Ukraine for the duration of the war, he added. Umerov, who reported on the meeting's outcomes together with German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and the British Secretary of Defence John Healey, said: "We will build drones, missiles, ammunition and other weapons together. Ukrainian drones have changed the battlefield. And now they will change how Ramstein countries prepare for future threats." He added that the joint production represents a strategic shift. Pistorius had already promised increased efforts for more air defence systems and electromagnetic warfare before the meeting, namely protection and disruption of communication and weapon deployments. Other countries are participating in these initiatives. Healey condemned the ongoing Russian attacks on cities and civilians in Ukraine despite peace efforts: "Ukraine, the United States, all of us here are calling for a ceasefire. We are for peace. Putin continues the war, so the work of this contact group becomes even more important. We must step up. We must never step back."
Yahoo
04-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Ukraine allies pledge continued support despite US minister's absence
Defence ministers from the Ukraine Defence Contact Group pledged further support for Ukraine on Wednesday despite the absence of US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth from the meeting. The talks, once led by the United States, are chaired by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius and UK Defence Secretary John Healey and aim to coordinate and raise further military support for Kiev. The format, also dubbed the Ramstein Group, comprises around 50 countries and was initiated by former US secretary of defense Lloyd Austin to help Ukraine defend itself from a full-scale Russian attack. Dutch Defence Minister Ruben Brekelmans announced a new support package for maritime security worth €400 million ($457 million). The package will include over 100 vessels, like patrol boats, transport boats, interceptors, special operations craft, over 50 sea drones, weapon systems, reserve parts and training, Brekelmans said. Ukraine's European allies are under increased pressure to step up aid to Ukraine after Washington suspended US military aid to Kiev and put its commitment to safeguarding Europe into question. Hegseth did not attend the meeting in Brussels, after Washington had previously made clear that it no longer wants to lead the pledging meetings. Instead, it aims to push Kiev and Moscow towards reaching a ceasefire agreement as quickly as possible. Other countries fear that such an agreement could come at Ukraine's expense. Pistorius said that so far there was no indication that Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine was final. "But the Europeans are ready, and Germany is ready to take responsibility," he stressed. "What we can compensate for remains to be seen. But we are making it very clear that we are determined not to leave Ukraine alone and to do what is necessary and possible to support Ukraine in its defence," Pistorius said. "The important thing is that we remain in discussion, and that's what we're doing," Pistorius said of Hegseth's absence. Brekelmans also suggested that the US position on military aid for Ukraine might change in the near future. "We see that Russia and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin are not willing to truly negotiate. And I think the United States is also starting to realize that," he said. For the time being, Ukraine's allies should increase pressure on Russia and keep supporting Ukraine, Brekelmans said.
