Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini has taken part in the 5th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group today in Ramstein, Germany. The UDCG was established by the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd J. Austin, to facilitate regular discussions among Ministers of Defense and Chiefs of Defence Staffs from countries participating in support initiatives for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. While in Germany, Guerini also met with Italian personnel deployed at NATO Allied Air Command-Ramstein, and paid honour to the Memorial to the Frecce Tricolori victims of the air crash occurred in 1988 in Ramstein.
"Italy, together with the Allies, is on Ukraine’s side. To achieve a fair peace agreement, we must keep supporting the Ukrainian resistance”, Defence Minister Lorenzo Guerini said in his intervention at the fifth meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group held today in Ramstein, Germany.
The UDCG is a forum joined by allied and partner countries actively committed to supporting Ukraine’s resistance against the Russian aggression.
During the meeting, dedicated to an update on the conflict dynamics as well as coordinating joint efforts to support Ukraine, Minister Guerini reiterated Italy’s full support to Kyiv, underscoring that (quote) “despite the government crisis, our country was able to finalize a fourth aid decree to meet the requirements illustrated by the Ukrainian Armed Forces”.
Then, the minister added: “At this troubled phase in history, caused by Putin’s decision to attack a sovereign country, NATO and the European Union have reiterated their firm decision to side with international law and protection of rights, and they did that by implementing measures of historical relevance, staunchly supported by Italy".
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting was followed by a meeting with the Italian personnel deployed at NATO Allied Air Command (HQ AIRCOM)-Ramstein.
"Your professionalism is not simply a source of rightful pride for our nation and admiration from our Allies who share the same values, but also one of the cornerstones of security for the Italian people”, the minister declared. His visit at Ramstein also gave Minister Guerini and Chief of Defence Staff, Adm. Cavo Dragone, the opportunity to pay honours to the Memorial to the Frecce Tricolori fallen during the air crash which occurred in Ramstein in 1988.
