The Pentagon has confirmed the Ramstein meeting will take place in January. Here’s what you need to know.

The Pentagon has confirmed the "Ramstein" meeting for next week. Participants will focus on how to ensure practical and coordinated steps to strengthen Ukraine's defense capabilities both now and in the future. More details will be announced in the coming days.

During a briefing, Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that on January 7, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will travel to Germany for the 25th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. She noted that the Secretary aims to reaffirm the unwavering support of the United States for Ukraine.

"Alongside defense ministers and military leaders from around the world, Secretary Austin will focus on providing practical and coordinated support that will enhance Ukraine's ability to defend itself today and deter aggression in the future," she emphasized.

At the same time, the press secretary mentioned that the Pentagon will provide more details about the official activities of the U.S. Secretary of Defense in the coming days.

Ramstein Meeting

On the morning of January 3, Ukrainian media reported that the Ukraine Defense meeting in the "Ramstein" format will take place next week, specifically on January 9. It will be held at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, chaired by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

It is worth noting that this meeting was initially scheduled for October 2024 in Germany. It was supposed to be led by U.S. President Joe Biden, with the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also expected. However, the meeting was canceled as Biden postponed his trip to Germany due to a powerful hurricane that struck Florida.

The "Ramstein" format emerged in 2022 to coordinate military support for Ukraine under the auspices of the U.S. It unites over 50 countries, the vast majority of which are NATO members.