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Euromaidanpress
Euromaidan Press
3 Apr 2025
Olena Mukhina


Defense News: US defense chief to skip Ramstein meeting on Ukraine’s support for first time since 2022

European allies express growing concerns about American isolationism as Hegseth’s absence marks the first time in 26 sessions that the Ukraine Defense Contact Group will convene without US defense leadership.
US EU NATO defense spending
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speak ahead of the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels (13/02/2025). Hegseth called Ukraine’s NATO membership “unrealistic,” urging Europe to take the lead in regional defense, while Rutte stressed Ukraine’s role in peace talks. Photo: Wiktor Dabkowski / eyevine
Defense News: US defense chief to skip Ramstein meeting on Ukraine’s support for first time since 2022

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in the Ramstein format, scheduled for 11 April in Brussels, Defense News reports, citing sources in European and US agencies.

The Ramstein-format meeting, established by former US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in 2022, will be chaired by the UK and Germany, according to the UK Joint Delegation to NATO. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group is an alliance of all 32 member states of NATO, 25 other countries, and the European Union supporting the defense of Ukraine amid Russia’s war.  Additionally, London has announced a separate meeting of the “Coalition of the Willing”—a group of Ukraine’s partners committed to supporting its defense against Russian aggression—which will take place on 10 April at NATO headquarters in Brussels.

Sources say Hegseth will not attend the Ramstein meeting in person or online. This will mark the first time the coalition will convene without the US defense secretary.

It remains unclear whether the US will send lower-ranking officials to the meeting. However, Defense News sources believe the Pentagon does not plan to send high-ranking representatives to Brussels.

In February, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth attended the Ramstein-format meeting but, for the first time in 26 sessions, did not preside over it, with the UK stepping in to lead.

This shift has amplified concerns about a growing American isolationist stance, particularly as Washington’s approach to Ukraine’s security—which is intrinsically tied to Europe’s stability—raises questions about its long-term commitment.

The prospect of a diminished US role has left NATO members increasingly anxious, fearing heightened vulnerability to Russian aggression as Moscow continues its war in Ukraine and poses broader threats to European security.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reaffirmed that the US will remain in NATO but will demand that all Alliance members commit to raising military spending to 5% of GDP, Fox News reports.

Speaking upon his arrival in Brussels alongside US Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker for talks with allies, Rubio also reiterated the US commitment to NATO’s collective security principle, which states that an attack on one ally is considered an attack on all.

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