Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, has said that the next Ramstein meeting on defence assistance of Ukraine will take place soon.

"We have high hopes for new decisions on defenсe assistance from our partners. The next Ramstein meeting will take place soon. It will be crucial for the announcement of new decisions," Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said at an online briefing on Wednesday, 4 January.

Kuleba has also named the weaponry the Ukrainian army needs most. According to him, the top priorities are anti-aircraft and anti-missile defence systems with ammunition.

"That is why we will have talks not only on new Patriot batteries but also on new NASAMS, IRIS-T, Crotal systems," the Minister added.

Ukraine is also interested in additional Gepard and Vulcan systems, portable anti-aircraft missile systems such as Stinger, and artillery rounds.

He has pointed out that Ukraine is currently working with partners to reach a new level of providing the armed forces with artillery systems and armoured vehicles of all types.

"Even children in Ukraine ask for a leopard for Christmas. We understand that children think not only about toy leopards. We not only think about this but also work very, very hard. I said last year, and I am still convinced that in 2023 we will receive something that, for various reasons, we could not obtain in 2022. I can confirm it. Wait for the news," the Minister underlined.

Kuleba also said that the American Patriot air defence system will be deployed in Ukraine as soon as possible. Preparations for the transfer of these systems have already begun.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on the member states in December to hand over to Ukraine more weapons, since military assistance for Ukraine is the fastest way to peace.