Conclusions of Ramstein-6: NATO will expand Ukraine's defensive and offensive capabilities. Photo: bmvg.de
At the conclusion of the meeting of the Ramstein-6 Ukraine Defense Contact Group, Ukraine was promised modern air defense systems, more artillery, fuel, armored vehicles, and winter uniforms to ensure further counteroffensive during the cold season.
We have already written that the key issue has become the protection of civilian infrastructure and residents of Ukraine with the help of more air defense systems: Ukraine's allies have already promised to provide Kyiv with their systems.
In particular, the U.S. promised to deliver modern air defense to Ukraine as quickly as possible, as well as upgrade ammunition for existing systems. Kyiv will receive eight new American systems, but only two will arrive in the coming weeks. Six more are yet to be produced.
According to American General Mark Milley, in addition to air defense, NATO defense ministers in Brussels discussed the supply of the following equipment and weapons to Ukraine:
- artillery;
- rocket artillery;
- maneuverable tanks;
- APVs;
- infantry vehicles.
The strengthening of the Ukrainian army through training and a large amount of non-lethal aid were also discussed.
What assistance countries have promised Ukraine
NASAMS are on their way to Ukraine — still, only two launchers. Photo: Wikipedia
The U.S.
- NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems (8 launchers, of which 2 will be delivered in the coming weeks and 6 later)
The U.K.
- AMRAAM missiles for NASAMS (range — up to 25 km, flight ceiling — 16 km, probability of hitting the target — 85%).
The AMRAAMs supplied by the U.K. are intended for surface-to-air systems but can also be launched from fighter jets.
Germany
MARS ІІ MLRS can destroy enemy equipment and personnel
Berlin pledged to deliver the following to Ukraine in the coming weeks:
- MARS II MLRS (quantity not disclosed);
- Panzerhaubitze 2000 self-propelled howitzers (quantity not disclosed);
- Zuzana-2 self-propelled howitzers (produced in Slovakia, funded by Germany in cooperation with Denmark and Norway, 16 pcs.) ;
- heating systems (130 pcs.);
- medical evacuation vehicles (36 pcs.);
- first aid kits (100,000 pcs);
- dry rations (405,000 pcs.);
- winter clothing (quantity not disclosed).
"Meeting of Ramstein-Format at a special time: Russian missile attacks and partial mobilization, sham referenda, Ukrainian counter-offensive. We coordinate our ongoing support. In the next few weeks, more PzH2000 and MARS II will be handed over to Ukraine," the German Ministry of Defense tweeted on October 12.
Reporting about the results of Ramstein-6, the Ministry added that it is handing Ukraine a "winter package", which was announced after the Ramstein-5 meeting.
The German Ministry of Defense recalled that the first IRIS-T SLM air defense system, which can intercept missiles at a height of up to 20 km and a distance of up to 40 km, has arrived in Ukraine.
France
- LRU MLRS (3 systems).
- Crotale air defense system (short-range system, operational range: 10 km, flight ceiling: 6 km; can shoot drones and cruise missiles);
- CAESAR self-propelled howitzers (6 pcs.);
- TRF1 howitzers (16 pcs.)
The French LRU MLRS [video]
The LRU MLRS is basically a modernized tracked version of HIMARS. France has only 12 such multiple launchers in service, although there are also 40 non-modernized units in storage.
As for the CAESAR self-propelled howitzers, considering the time France needs to produce them (about 30 months per system), the Ukrainian army will be given their analogues based on another chassis, which were produced at the request of Denmark.
Lithuania
Panzermörser M113 can shoot 5 rounds a minute. Photo: Wikipedia
- Panzermörser M113 mortars (unknown quantity);
- armored vehicles (unknown quantity);
- thermal imagers (unknown quantity);
- unmanned aerial vehicles (unknown quantity);
- winter clothes;
- other equipment for the AFU.
This assistance was announced by Lithuanian Minister of Defense Arvydas Anušauskas.
"Lithuania continues its support to Ukraine! We will hand over winter clothes and equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, allocate additional funds for next year's material support, provide 120 mm mortars on platform 113, armored cars, thermal imagers, drones, etc. WE WILL NOT STOP!" he emphasized.
The Netherlands
- anti-aircraft missiles (worth €15 million).
Canada
Canada announced a new assistance package for Ukraine worth $47 million, which includes:
- winter uniforms (500,000 pieces, worth $15 mln);
- 155-mm artillery rounds (worth $15,2 mln);
- drone cameras (Ukraine previously received 50 such cameras, and now additional cameras with a value of $15 mln will be given);
- satellite communications (worth $2 mln).
NATO will enable Ukraine’s winter counteroffensive
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized that NATO would provide Ukraine with winter uniforms and equipment, as well as armored vehicles and artillery, to ensure that the Ukrainian Armed Forces can continue their counteroffensive operations throughout the winter, as well as air defense systems to protect civilians and infrastructure.
Conclusions of Ramstein-6: Speech by Jens Stoltenberg [video]
At the same time, NATO has to expand its existing production capacity. That’s why investments in the defense industry are being allocated to both respond to Ukraine’s urgent needs and resupply the Alliance’s own stocks.
Therefore, commenting on the results of the meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels, Stoltenberg noted that, in addition to the creation of a multi-level air defense system for Ukraine, the ministers discussed increasing the production of weapons in order to be able to both help Kyiv and replenish their own stocks of ammunition and weapons.
NATO strengthens its eastern flank and steps up intelligence
Stoltenberg asserted that NATO would respond to Russia's nuclear strike. Photo: Getty Images
According to Stoltenberg, in view of the growing threats, NATO will also:
- enhance the protection of its critical infrastructure, including by increasing its naval presence in the Baltic and North Seas;
- deploy eight high-readiness battlegroups in the East, from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea, which can be scaled up quickly to brigade size;
- step up its intelligence-sharing and surveillance across all domains, including space and undersea capabilities;
- strengthen and deepen NATO-EU cooperation. A new Joint Declaration of the blocs will be signed in the near future.
The consequences of a nuclear strike against Ukraine will be disastrous
Commenting on the possibility of nuclear deterrence of Russia, the NATO Secretary General emphasized that the Alliance is not a party to the war between Russia and Ukraine, but there will still be a reaction should the Kremlin launch a nuclear strike.
According to him, such a strike, even if smaller nuclear weapons are used, will have catastrophic consequences: on October 12, the official representative of NATO already stated that the Alliance will respond "physically".
Stoltenberg refused to decrypt what exactly it meant.
"We will not go into exactly how we will respond. But of course, this will fundamentally change the nature of the conflict. It will mean that a very important line has been crossed, fundamentally changing the nature of the war in Ukraine. Russia knows there will be consequences."