Germany pushes for Ramstein-format meeting in December, likely at leader level

An additional meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, also known as the Ramstein format, may take place in December, with one of the options being talks at the highest level.

Major General Christian Freuding, Head of the Planning Staff and the Special Task Force for Ukraine at Germany's Federal Ministry of Defence, said in a conversation with journalists in Kyiv that negotiations are currently underway on the format of the meeting, and the possibility of holding a meeting at the level of state leaders, with the participation of US President Joe Biden, is also being considered.

"I hope there will be a Ramstein meeting in December, before Christmas, with the outgoing Biden administration. There is a discussion at which level this Rammstein meeting could be held – should it be on leaders’ level or on the level of defence ministers," Freuding said.

The general does not consider the fact that the US president and executive branch are due to change in January to be a problem for the negotiations. On the contrary, he believes it will help reaffirm the commitment to continue supporting the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Germany is known to have handed over a package of aid and is preparing to deliver new air defence systems.

Freuding also stressed the need for a face-to-face meeting, not just a video call.

"Our position is that we are very much if favour of having this Rammstein meeting in person, regardless of which level is agreed. We're convinced that such a meeting before the change of administration would be very helpful and will send a clear signal from the partner nations that we will continue our support regardless what happens in the US," he explained.

Germany announced the transfer of two more IRIS-T air defence missile systems to Ukraine by the end of the year.