The Diplomat
The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, participated this Thursday in the XXV meeting of the Contact Group for the Defense of Ukraine, convened by the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Lloyd Austin, and in which she announced the upcoming shipment of ten electric generators to that country.
Along with Robles, the other 25 ministers of the Contact Group, the High Representative of the EU, Kaja Kallas, and the Secretary General of NATO, Mark Rutte, participated in the meeting held in the German town of Ramstein. The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, and the Minister of Defense of this country, Rustem Umerov, also attended. During her speech, the minister reiterated “Spain’s firm commitment to Ukraine and security in Europe” and informed her counterparts of the most relevant details of new donations and shipments of material.
Specifically, she announced the upcoming shipment of ten electric generators, as well as the offer of new training courses for the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the new humanitarian assistance program for Ukrainian families, which will begin next Sunday, January 12.
In addition, she dedicated a few words of recognition to the Secretary of Defense of the United States, Lloyd Austin, in what was her last attendance at this format of meetings of the Contact Group, of whom she highlighted “his leadership, dedication and success in effectively coordinating the military support of more than 50 countries to Ukraine.”
During the meeting, the ministers in attendance were informed about the evolution of the war, which does not stop despite the winter, aggravated by the participation of troops from third countries on Russian soil. The fighting continues to be concentrated in eastern Ukraine and the Kursk region of Russia, although Russia continues to attack critical civilian infrastructure in all areas of Ukrainian territory, affecting basic services for the population.
Likewise, attendees were informed about the most urgent short-term needs of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and the ongoing support initiatives within the framework of the different coalitions of capabilities in support of Ukraine were reviewed.
During the day, Robles, who was accompanied by Admiral Juan Francisco Martínez Núñez, Secretary General of Defense Policy, held bilateral meetings with Lloyd Austin and Rustem Umerov.
