The allies want to increase the supply of anti-aircraft defense and ammunition to Ukraine now that the war unleashed by the Russian invasion of the country lasts almost fourteen months, and they discuss the terms of this increase in a new meeting at the US airbase in Ramstein (Germany). ), convened by the United States Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.
Speaking at the start of the work, which brings together Defense Ministers and Chiefs of Staff from 40 allied countries and which will conclude this afternoon, Austin stated that “the allies are committed to supporting Ukraine for as long as necessary.” and condemned what he described as Russian President Vladimir Putin’s efforts “to carve out spheres of influence at gunpoint.” These regular meetings began two months after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and this is the eleventh.
Spain has participated in several of these meetings, and on this occasion the Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, has traveled to Ramstein, who plans to announce new Spanish shipments to Ukraine of military material to reinforce the mobility, armor and protection of its Ukrainian army, in addition to anti-aircraft defense and maritime and amphibious protection and projection capabilities. Robles is accompanied by the Secretary General for Defense Policy, Admiral Juan Francisco MartÃnez Núñez.
As reported this week by the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the donations will be sent “in the near future”, in response to the priorities expressed by the Ukrainian Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, during his visit to Madrid last week. Reznikov then alluded to the experience of the Spanish Navy in marine infantry capabilities. Added to this is the training mission of the Ukrainian military in Spain; So far, about 1,200 have received instruction, and the total number is expected to be at least 2,000 this year.
At the start of the meeting in Ramstein, Lloyd Austin assured allies that the United States is fully investigating the network leak of classified documents on Ukraine, China and the Middle East that occurred in early April. “We take this issue very seriously,” said the US Secretary of Defense, “and we will continue to work closely and respectfully with our allies and partners, whom we deeply value.”
