The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, an alliance of more than 50 countries providing military support for Kyiv’s fight against a Russian invasion force, should continue even after Donald Trump is inaugurated as president on January 20, Polish Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz said following the 25th meeting of the group this week.

This week’s meeting was convened at the U.S. Air Force base in Ramstein, Germany. It was the last chaired by outgoing Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who proposed the concept for the contact group in April 2022, two months after Russian tanks crossed the border into neighboring Ukraine.

“There is a consensus to perpetuate the meetings in this format. Everyone in this group expresses their will to maintain this structure, with the United States playing a pivotal role,” Mr. Kosiniak-Kamysz said following Thursday’s meeting. “It is anticipated that such a meeting will occur in the subsequent administration’s term. This format has proven to be effective.”

Since the invasion, Contact Group members have collectively contributed more than $126 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, including tanks, F-16 aircraft, air defense systems, and munitions. Mr. Austin said the Ukraine crisis also exposed shortcomings in the allied defense industrial base.

“We’ve still got a lot more work to do. But we have galvanized our own defense industry, investing nearly $70 billion at home to produce capabilities for Ukraine and replenish our own stocks,” he said.

The Polish defense minister, who also serves as Poland’s deputy prime minister, used this week’s meeting in Germany to announce an additional support package for its neighbor.

Poland shares a border with Ukraine and is the largest contributor of support in terms of gross domestic product. Warsaw has earmarked more than 4.9% of its GDP, for both military support and assisting Ukrainian refugees, Polish officials said.

“We are always willing to support, of course, within the limits of our security interests,” Mr. Kosiniak-Kamysz told reporters after the meeting.

Allies are concerned that the incoming Trump administration will pull back from the heavy military and financial support President Biden has approved for Ukraine since 2022. The president-elect has called for both sides in the conflict to negotiate and has said he believes he can quickly negotiate a ceasefire and peace deal after taking office.

• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.