It was intended to be a strong sign of solidarity with Ukraine, which was attacked by Russia. After the US President’s cancellation, the summit in Ramstein has now been canceled.
After US President Joe Biden’s visit to Germany was postponed, the Ukraine summit in Ramstein, Rhineland-Palatinate, originally planned for Saturday, will also take place later. The US command at the US air base there announced: “The event on October 12th has been postponed. Announcements about future meetings of the contact group for the defense of Ukraine will follow.”
The contact group includes a total of 50 countries that support Ukraine in its defensive fight against Russia by supplying weapons and armaments. It has already met several times in Ramstein at the defense minister level. The meeting planned for Saturday would have been the first summit at the level of heads of state and government.
Around 20 heads of state and government had announced their presence
In addition to Biden, around 20 other heads of state and government had announced their presence, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. There were also commitments from French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others.
Biden postponed his trip to Germany and a subsequent visit to Angola in Africa at short notice on Tuesday because of the dangerous hurricane “Milton,” which was heading toward the US state of Florida. In the meantime there was speculation as to whether the summit would still take place and the US President could join in. A meeting at the level of defense ministers was also considered.
Defense ministers meeting in October?
It is now clear that such a meeting will not take place for the time being. There are currently no alternative dates for Biden’s visit or for the summit. However, a spokesman for the Federal Defense Minister said that there was a desire to hold at least one meeting at defense minister level in October.
Chancellor Scholz (SPD) had already shown understanding for Biden’s rejection on RTL on Tuesday. “If such storms raged in my country, then I would also make this decision.”
Four-way meetings with Starmer and Macron also collapsed
Government spokesman Hebestreit said that a four-party meeting also planned for Saturday, in which Scholz and Biden as well as Macron and Starmer were supposed to take part, would not take place. Biden and Scholz had arranged to have a phone call after the trip was postponed, but this had not yet taken place by early afternoon.
Source: Stern
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