Today, at the 25th Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) meeting held in Ramstein, Germany, defence ministers from over 50 countries convened for the final time under the leadership of U.S. Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin.
"The United States' contribution to aiding Ukraine has been of existential significance—we may never know how many lives it has saved. The Ukraine Defence Contact Group has become much more than just a gathering of defence ministers. It brings together over 50 nations and has given rise to several international efforts to support Ukraine. Therefore, it is crucial for the Contact Group to continue its meetings even with the inauguration of a new U.S. administration," said Minister of Defence Hanno Pevkur.
"All discussions related to supporting Ukraine and strengthening our own defence capabilities point to one conclusion—2% of GDP is no longer sufficient, even as a baseline. At the Hague Summit, we must set more ambitious targets for defence spending. It is very encouraging that we are actively discussing greater contributions among member states," added Minister Pevkur.
Estonia has committed to supporting Ukraine in the coming years with 0.25% of its GDP and, alongside Luxembourg, leads the IT Coalition, which has raised €500 million in financial and material aid over the past year. "Next year, Estonia’s contribution to the IT Coalition will double—our €5 million investment will help establish a secure and NATO-compliant ICT infrastructure for Ukraine’s armed forces, thereby enhancing their combat capabilities," explained Minister Pevkur.
Additionally, during the meeting, the Nordic and Baltic defence ministers convened to discuss regional security issues.
The main goal of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group meetings is to coordinate cooperation within capability coalitions with allies and to ensure that aid reaches Ukraine swiftly and effectively. At the September 2023 UDCG meeting, the IT Coalition was launched, co-led by Estonia and Luxembourg. To date, 16 countries have joined the IT Coalition.
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Photos: Ukraina kaitse kontakgrupi kohtumine Ramsteinis 9.01.2024 | Flickr