Dear Ukrainians,

Yesterday together with Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Yevhen Moisyuk, and Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Major General Vadym Skibitskyi, I had the honor to represent our state at the second meeting of defence’ agencies’ chiefs in the format established on April 26, 2022 at Ramstein Air Base.

This format was created thanks to the leadership of the United States of America and personally US Secretary of Defense Mr. Lloyd Austin III.

“Ramstein” is becoming a real coalition of the free world in support of Ukraine. I am happy to say that the number of states-participants is growing, and among all continents only Antarctica is not represented.

Together with my colleagues, we informed our partners in detail about the situation at the front lines and the changes that had taken place since the previous meeting.

We noted the progress in the supply of 155 mm artillery and outlined the priority needs of Ukrainian defenders. While at the first meeting the key words were “timing” and ”transition”, this time the word “coordination” was added. We will focus our efforts to maximize the effect from international support.

I sincerely thanked many of my colleagues for helping our country, in particular my friend and great supporter of Ukraine, UK Secretary of State for Defence Mr. Ben Wallace.

With sense of optimism, I would like to refer to the assessment given by another great friend of Ukraine, US Secretary of Defense Mr. Lloyd Austin III: at the last meeting, the states announced new means of support that may become game-changing in this war. I hope that at our next meeting in June, I will be able to update my colleagues on the results of using the weaponry discussed on May 23. For instance, we have already received confirmation on strengthening our coastal defence. Among other things, I mean launchers and Harpoon anti-ship missiles. The solution to supply these systems was found through the joint efforts of several of our partner countries. There were also other pleasant surprises that will increase the power of the Ukrainian army. They will be unpleasant for the enemy. But I will speak about this later.

Thank you to my Polish colleague Mariusz Błaszczak, to the Minister of Defence of Canada Anita Anand and to the Danish Defence Minister Morten Bødskov.

I am grateful to Minister of the Netherlands Kajsa Ollongren and to the Minister Bjørn Arild Gram of Norway.

No can words express to full extent our gratitude to our Lithuanian, Latvian and Estonian friends - Arvidas Anushauskas, Artis Pabriks and Kalle Laanet. The Ukrainian Nation is deeply grateful to them.

I would like to thank our colleagues from Australia and France and hope to accelerate our cooperation with the new teams.

Thank you to Minister Jana Černochová of the Czechia and to Minister Jaroslav Naď of the Slovak Republic.

Last week, we had a fruitful conversation with the German Federal Minister Christine Lambrecht. Among other things, we discussed supplies of anti-aircraft armoured fighting vehicle Gepard. I am grateful for everything that Germany has begun to do for Ukraine.

I would like to thank Minister Hulusi Akar.

We are filled with optimism, in part due to the stellar leadership of the United States, already embodied in the Lend-Lease Act and in the parameters of help. I would like to extend my personal thanks to Secretary Lloyd Austin III for all his efforts to support Ukraine.

All the meeting`s participants expressed their unwavering support for Ukraine in the war against Russia, their admiration for the heroism and professionalism of our Armed Forces and the resilience of the Ukrainian people.

Ukraine will definitely win!

Glory to Ukraine!