Defense Secretary Hegseth affirms U.S. commitment to Ramstein — Espreso correspondent

Espreso correspondent Tetiana Vysokotska reported the information.

"Over the past two days, serious negotiations have taken place at NATO headquarters in Brussels regarding both support for Ukraine and strengthening the defense capabilities of the Alliance itself. Yesterday, June 4, a meeting of the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine in the Ramstein format took place, and today – a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council in an informal lunch format. It can be said that yesterday was more productive than today. Following the Ukraine-NATO Council meeting, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, did not give a press briefing and did not approach the press," the correspondent commented.

According to her, NATO Press Secretary Mark Rutte spoke to journalists, but did not say much about the results of the meetings, only noting that the Alliance would continue to support Ukraine. Rutte also said that since the beginning of 2025, allies have pledged to provide Ukraine with over 20 billion euros.

"The main conclusion from these two days is that, unfortunately, the United States is distancing itself from continuing to help Ukraine. For example, yesterday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth did not participate in the Contact Group on the Defense of Ukraine. And today, he did not stay for the Ukraine-NATO Council, although there were such hopes. However, Hegseth gave some comments to journalists, and there is positive news – the United States is not withdrawing from the Contact Group in the Ramstein format. That is, the United States remains in Ramstein. He said that from the very beginning, when the Trump administration came to power, there was a plan for the leadership of this group to pass to Germany and Great Britain. According to Hegseth, nothing extraordinary happened - the United States was represented at the ambassadorial level, participated in the contact group, and made its contribution. This is the only good news of today," Vysokotska summarized.

Earlier, following the NATO defense ministers’ meeting in Brussels on June 5, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reiterated that the transition of leadership in the Contact Group to Germany and the UK had been planned from the start of the Trump administration, and emphasized that the United States remains actively involved in the Ramstein format.

• On Wednesday, June 4, the 28th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format took place in Brussels.