On Friday, January 20, in Ramstein, the head of the Ministry of Defense took part in a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which brings together more than 50 countries supporting Ukraine.

Speaking about another means of Polish support for Ukraine, the head of the Ministry of Defense noted that this is possible thanks to the consistently implemented modernization of the Polish Armed Forces.

" Support for Ukraine is possible because we are able to provide equipment’s replacements for the Polish Armed Forces. There are already Korean K-2 tanks and K-9 howitzers with another delivery this year. There will also be American HIMARS and Abrams tanks. When we add to this the ongoing contract concluded with the Ukrainian authorities by Huta Stalowa Wola for the supply of Krab cannon howitzers, then we have a coherent project for supporting Ukraine, and at the same time modernizing the equipment of the Polish Armed Forces."

- emphasized the head of the Ministry of Defense.

The Ramstein conference, which was held with the participation of representatives from more than 50 countries and chaired by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin, focused on assessing the current military situation in Ukraine, discussing the scale of support for Ukraine's Armed Forces and plans for new military capabilities there.

"This was the eighth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, here at the Ramstein base, on German territory. Just as the previous meetings were fruitful, today's meeting was also. It was a good discussion between the Allies in a format broader than NATO. We talked primarily about the situation in Ukraine. (...) We talked of the threats posed by Russian imperial policy. There is no doubt that we can expect another attack on Ukraine. It is therefore necessary to support Ukraine so that it can effectively resist a Russian attack."

- Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak noted after the meeting.

Poland's commitment to supporting Ukraine was also emphasized by US Defense Secretary L. Austin, who chaired the talks at the Ramstein conference.

"Poland has been a leader in providing armored vehicles to Ukraine, training Ukrainian armed forces and providing shelter to Ukrainian refugees."

- he said.

"In my speech, I consistently mentioned that the Kremlin's ruler is trying to rebuild an empire of evil. The Russian empire, which will certainly not stop at Ukraine and will want to go further. We must do everything to support the Ukrainians so that the war does not spill over into the territory of the NATO countries."

- Deputy Prime Minister M. Blaszczak said after the meeting.

The head of the Polish defense ministry also held talks with representatives of 15 countries, users of Leopard tanks, which could be transferred to Ukraine as part of a broader coalition.

"We also talked in the group of the 15 countries that use Leopard tanks. We discussed the subject of equipping Ukraine with precisely these heavy tanks. This is important because 14 countries meeting today in Ramstein have such tanks. We want to form a coalition of countries that have these tanks and which could equip Ukraine with them. No decisions have been made on this issue. We have arranged further meetings. Probably already in video conference format. (...) I am convinced that this coalition’s creation will be successful, just as the transfer of the Patriot system to Ukraine was."

- The head of the Ministry of Defense noted after the meeting.

A bilateral meeting between Minister M. Blaszczak and Boris Pistorius, Minister of Defense of Germany, was also held today at the base in Ramstein.