Members of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), co-chaired by the United Kingdom and Germany, are convening today to discuss President Donald Trump’s plans for NATO allies to provide Ukraine with critical weaponry.
Patriot Systems on the Horizon
The UDCG, also known as the Ramstein format, meets as President Trump stated that arms shipments, including Patriot air defense systems, could arrive in Ukraine within days. Last week, Trump announced he had signed an agreement with NATO allies for large-scale arms deliveries to Ukraine, specifically mentioning Patriot systems—considered among the best globally for detecting and intercepting a wide range of incoming aerial targets.
“We will send Patriots to NATO, and then NATO will distribute them,” Trump said, adding, “The Alliance will pay for the systems.” Speaking alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte, the U.S. President specified that European allies would fund the weapons and that initial deliveries would arrive “within a few days.”
It is understood that European nations will transfer weapons—either from existing stockpiles or new ones purchased from the U.S.—to Ukraine. Replacements for these transferred systems would then be procured from the United States, as reported by Euronews.
Delivery Preparations Underway
It remains unclear if any arms transfers to Ukraine have already taken place. General Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander for Europe, stated that preparations for weapon deliveries were “in process.” U.S. Ambassador to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, refrained from providing a specific timeline.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz expressed confidence that Germany would soon reach an agreement with the U.S. for the delivery of Patriots. “Negotiations between the defense ministers were concrete, and their delivery was a matter of days, perhaps weeks,” Merz stated.
Reports indicate that Germany’s armed forces, the Bundeswehr, will hand over two of its nine remaining Patriot systems and receive replacements from the U.S. This decision comes despite initial plans to purchase two Patriot systems from the U.S. and send them directly to Ukraine.
Other systems could be delivered via Switzerland, whose Ministry of Defense also announced that it had been informed by the U.S. Department of Defense to “re-prioritize delivery” of five systems previously ordered to support Ukraine.
A senior NATO official declared that the alliance is coordinating the delivery of additional military support, including ammunition and artillery shells, as Ukraine awaits the arrival of the Patriot systems.
Separately, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that his officials have proposed a new round of peace talks to be held this week.
