Meeting by videoconference on Monday 21 July, the defence ministers of the countries in the Ukraine Defense Contact Group underlined their military support for the country at a time when large-scale Russian air attacks are on the increase.
In a speech to ministers, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte highlighted the initiative announced on 14 July by himself and US President Donald Trump to send additional US equipment to Ukraine, including air defence systems, with investment from European and Canadian allies. This initiative, coordinated by NATO, “has already attracted the interest of many Allies”, said the Alliance in a press release.
On Monday 21 July, the Netherlands announced that it intended to make a “substantial contribution” to the initiative to provide Ukraine with additional air defences, without however specifying the amount involved. The United Kingdom, which co-chaired the Contact Group meeting, made it clear that it would contribute fully to the success of the American initiative.
Germany, the other co-chair, also announced that it would “ensure that five much-needed Patriot systems are delivered as quickly as possible” to Ukraine. “Germany is prepared to finance the transfer of additional Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. The technical, logistical and financial details are currently being coordinated”, said the German Ministry of Defence in a press release.
The UK and Germany also announced a new partnership agreement to supply Ukraine with air defence munitions. Berlin will provide funding of over €170 million, which London will use to rapidly procure air defence munitions through the International Fund for Ukraine, which it manages, for delivery in the coming months.
New negotiations this Wednesday. The Ukrainian and Russian parties will meet again this Wednesday in Turkey for further negotiations. While Russia is under pressure from Donald Trump, who has warned that he will impose sanctions if there is no peace agreement within 50 days (see EUROPE 13681/9), it announced on Tuesday that it was not expecting any “miraculous progress” this Wednesday, given that the positions of the two parties are “diametrically opposed”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)