U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, who is leaving his post soon, called on the Ukraine Support coalition to continue to be on Ukraine's side and strengthen its position for future negotiations.

“I'm leaving this Contact Group not with a farewell, but with a challenge. The coalition to support Ukraine must not flinch. It must not falter. And it must not fail. Ukraine's survival is on the line. But so is all of our security. Putin wants to avenge a fallen empire—and to rebuild it. The Kremlin's assault starts with Ukraine. But it will not end there,” Austin said at a briefing after the 25th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine (Ramstein format) in Germany on Thursday.

He stressed that the danger is global in nature, because “Putin wants a world where empire tramples sovereignty—a world where conquest trumps human rights—a world where tyranny bulldozes democracy.” According to the U.S. Secretary of Defense, “every autocrat on Earth is watching to see whether Putin gets away with it.”

“So this coalition must continue to stand foursquare with Ukraine—and to strengthen Ukraine's hand for the negotiations that will someday bring Putin's monstrous war to a close. Now, that road is challenging. But all the alternatives are far worse. No responsible leader would let Putin have his way,” Austin is sure.

The head of the Pentagon called on the countries “to hold firm to the bedrock principle that aggression is a sin. And we must never lose our nerve.”

“So let me again urge countries of conscience from around the world to help Ukraine succeed—and to ensure that Putin does not prevail. And to my brave Ukrainian teammates—and to my friends who have already given and sacrificed far too much—let me urge you to stay in the fight,” Austin said.

The 25th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine after a long break took place at the Ramstein airbase in Germany on Thursday, December 9. The last 24th meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine was held at the Ramstein airbase in Germany on September 6.

The leaders of the capability coalition groups within the framework of the Ramstein format have approved eight roadmaps that define the key objectives of the Ukrainian Defense Forces until 2027. The roadmaps of the coalitions define Ukraine's strategic goals until 2027 and become the basis for medium- and long-term support. “We are also working to ensure that the Armed Forces of Ukraine are fully compatible with the forces of the Alliance,” said Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

The first meeting at Ramstein Air Base took place on April 26, 2022.