Official announcements from the U.S. government or Department of Defense

Zelenskyy to Urge Allies for Enhanced Air Defenses at Ramstein Air Base Meeting on Thursday

Jan 5, 2025, 01:30 PM

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he will urge allies to enhance Ukraine's air defenses at an upcoming meeting of the Ramstein group at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Thursday. The meeting will involve dozens of partner nations, including those capable of bolstering Ukraine's defenses against missiles, guided bombs, and Russian aviation. Zelenskyy emphasized the need to strengthen air defenses in his nightly address, stating that the task remains unchanged. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin is set to attend the meeting, which was originally planned for October but postponed due to Hurricane Milton. The urgency of the request comes as U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who has vowed to end the nearly three-year war quickly, is set to take office later this month. Zelenskyy has previously described Trump as 'strong and unpredictable,' suggesting these traits could influence U.S. policy toward Russia's invasion of Ukraine.