BRUSSELS (AP) – Senior officials from nearly 50 nations convened on Wednesday at NATO headquarters in Brussels to discuss boosting weapons and ammunition supplies for Ukraine, marking the first absence of U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth since the establishment of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group three years ago. This group was formed to coordinate military aid following Russia's escalation of its invasion of Ukraine, which began on February 24, 2022.
The meeting was chaired by representatives from the United Kingdom and Germany, while Hegseth arrived in Brussels only after the conclusion of the discussions. He is scheduled to participate in a NATO defense ministers' meeting on Thursday. His absence signals a potential shift in Washington's engagement with Ukraine amid concerns regarding the ongoing military conflict with Russia. According to U.N. estimates, over 12,000 Ukrainian civilians have lost their lives in the war, alongside countless soldiers from both sides.
Prior to the meeting, the U.K. announced plans for a tenfold increase in drone production intended to support Ukraine's defense efforts. Drones have emerged as a crucial element in the ongoing warfare, influencing the dynamics of military engagements significantly. U.K. Defense Secretary John Healey emphasized that British companies are leveraging battlefield experiences to develop advanced drones, which are expected to aid in the protection of Ukrainian civilians while also enhancing the U.K.'s national security.
The Ukraine Defense Contact Group was initiated by Hegseth’s predecessor, Lloyd Austin, following Russia's full-scale aggression against Ukraine. Since the group's inception, Ukraine's allies have collectively contributed approximately $126 billion in military assistance, with the U.S. accounting for more than $66.5 billion of that total. Notably, the U.S. has not chaired a meeting of the group since the Trump administration took office in January.
Concerns among European NATO allies have intensified regarding the potential for the U.S. to withdraw troops from Europe to concentrate on interests in the Indo-Pacific region. French President Emmanuel Macron has notably expressed that abandoning support for Ukraine could seriously undermine U.S. credibility in deterring conflicts, particularly in relation to China and Taiwan.
The gathering in Brussels represents a critical juncture in international support for Ukraine as it continues to navigate the challenges posed by the ongoing conflict. The deliberations among the participating nations serve to reinforce a unified front in military assistance while highlighting the evolving geopolitical landscape and the varying commitments of allied nations.
