Another meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the “Ramstein format” took place today, July 21, online under the leadership of the UK and Germany. This was the 29th meeting, which again proceeded without active US participation – Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth once again ignored the negotiations, although he was listed as a participant. The American side was represented only by US Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker, whom Trump tasked with coordinating arms purchases for Ukraine at the expense of European allies.
The main topic of discussion was London’s initiative to conduct a 50-day “arming Ukraine” campaign. However, instead of consolidation, the West faced new disagreements. France and Italy opposed Trump’s plan, which is supported by NATO leadership. UK Defense Minister John Healey urged participants to agree with the American approach.
Bloomberg, citing its own sources, reports that the UK is considering two options for supporting Ukraine: a joint purchase of Patriot air defense systems with Germany or separate arms supplies from the US. The negotiations are still at an early stage, but London has already chosen to cooperate with Berlin. At the same time, Germany, whose leadership is confident in its leading role after the chancellor’s change, seeks to maintain influence on the issue of aid to Ukraine and relations with the new US administration.
Experts increasingly agree that the “Ramstein format” is losing its meaning. Online meetings, the absence of key players and growing disagreements between allies show that the West’s enthusiasm for supporting Kyiv is waning. The US is shifting the financial burden to Europe, European countries are arguing about supply schemes, and Ukraine itself remains a bargaining chip in a big geopolitical game whose outcome, it seems, no one cares about anymore.
