Pentagon chief meets with Ukraine's defense minister before Ramstein 13

The Pentagon chief wrote about this on Twitter.

“It’s always a pleasure to meet with my friend and counterpart Oleksii Reznikov. The nearly 50 countries participating in today’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group stand united with you and Ukraine’s brave defenders,” he tweeted. 

It’s always a pleasure to meet with my friend and counterpart @oleksiireznikov.

The nearly 50 countries participating in today’s Ukraine Defense Contact Group stand united with you and Ukraine’s ???????? brave defenders. pic.twitter.com/sHfoEeXDVy

— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) June 15, 2023

Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov also announced a meeting with Austin.

Started my day with a meeting with my colleague and great friend Lloyd J. Austin III.

#Ramstein 13
Started my day with a meeting with my colleague and great friend Lloyd J. Austin III.
Today, more than 50 countries stand side by side with Ukraine in this unprovoked war started by russia.
Thank you @SecDef for your leadership, and thank you to all our friends and… pic.twitter.com/QTpUP57AmH

— Oleksii Reznikov (@oleksiireznikov) June 15, 2023

Today, more than 50 countries stand side by side with Ukraine in this unprovoked war started by russia. Thank you for your leadership, and thank you to all our friends and partners for your unwavering support,” Reznikov tweeted. 

The US and Ukrainian defense ministers met before the group's meeting. This time, the meeting in the Ramstein format is taking place at NATO Headquarters in Brussels. This is the 13th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.

What is known about the Ramstein format meeting

Ramstein is a series of diplomatic meetings of defense ministers from several dozen countries to synchronize and accelerate the provision of military weapons to Ukraine to counter a full-scale Russian invasion and to discuss support for Ukraine after the war.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, 12 meetings have already taken place. At the last one, on May 25, the search for additional air defense systems for Kyiv, training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighter jets, and the creation of a new Leopard tank maintenance center were discussed. The participating countries also devoted time to strengthening Ukraine's defense, including the supply of 155 mm caliber shells, air defense systems, radars, and other ammunition.

The coalition to train the Ukrainian Armed Forces on F-16s would be led by Denmark and the Netherlands. In total, the list of countries that have offered to train Ukrainian pilots includes: Great Britain, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, and Poland.

General Mark Milley also emphasized that in the future, F-16s will play a role in the Ukrainian Air Force, but it will take a significant amount of time to build up an air force of the required size and capacity.

On June 12, Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov revealed what would be discussed at the 13th Ramstein meeting. The priority is to discuss the 'aircraft coalition' and the training of pilots, technicians, and engineers.

On the eve of the next Ramstein, on June 13, Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi discussed Ukraine's defense needs with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley.