US holds a Ukraine war conference at Ramstein airbase in Germany
April 26, 2022, 8:22 am

US holds a Ukraine war conference at Ramstein airbase in Germany

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The Anews reported, citing DPA, U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin has invited around 40 countries to participate in a conference on the war in Ukraine being held on Tuesday (Apr 26) at the Ramstein U.S. airbase in Germany.

The aim of the conference is to secure Ukraine's long-term security and sovereignty. It is expected to focus on the country's defence needs in the period following the war.

The U.S. Department of Defense has made clear that the conference is not being held under NATO auspices, and countries that are not members of the alliance are reportedly among those invited.

In the run up to the conference, Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Kiev, where they met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday and agreed to provide Ukraine with additional military assistance.

From left: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken meet on April 24, 2022 in Kyiv (Photo: Arab News via US Department of Defense via AFP)

They were also provided with important information on Ukraine's defence requirements, the details of which are due to be discussed with the U.S.' partners and allies attending the conference.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the US secretaries of state and defence on Sunday night in what was the highest-level visit to the country’s capital by an American delegation since the start of the war.

President Zelensky meets face-to-face with Antony Blinken and Lloyd Austin

The secretive meeting with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin came as Ukraine pressed the West for more powerful weapons and as Russia continued its campaign in the eastern Donbas region, where Moscow’s forces are seeking to dislodge the last Ukrainian troops in the battered port of Mariupol.

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Upon arriving to participate in the summit of the European Political Community, which includes around forty heads of state in Budapest, he said, "I look forward to sitting with the elected U.S. president and seeing how we will collectively ensure we meet challenges, including the threats from Russia and North Korea." He also noted that the strengthening of ties between Russia and North Korea poses a threat to the United States as well, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Before Trump's victory, Rutte expressed confidence that a united Washington would remain part of the defensive alliance, even if Trump became the 47th president of the United States. In an interview with German public broadcaster ZDF last Monday night, he stated that both Republicans and Democrats understand that NATO serves not only the security of Europe but also that of America. He added that both candidates are aware that the security of the United States is closely tied to NATO.

On Wednesday, NATO congratulated Trump on his victory but did not address the Ukrainian issue.

It is noteworthy that the relationship between the elected U.S. president and the defense alliance was not the best during his first term in the White House. Trump criticized NATO member states multiple times and even hinted at withdrawing from the alliance unless they increased their financial contributions.

Additionally, the issue of the Russian-Ukrainian war is one of the matters that complicate relations between the two sides, especially since Trump has repeatedly stated that he can end this ongoing conflict, which began in 2022, quickly. He implied that he had a peace plan between Kyiv and Moscow, while his vice president, JD Vance, revealed aspects of that plan, which stipulated Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO, thereby sending reassuring signals to the Russians.

Furthermore, many NATO member states in Europe fear that Trump might halt military aid to Ukraine after he previously criticized the U.S. for pouring funds into supporting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.