Ukraine Defence Contact Group meets in Berlin
The 34th meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group has commenced in Berlin, but the United States did not send its defense secretary or NATO commander to attend. This marks a notable shift from Washington's previous leadership role in the group, which was created in 2022 to coordinate military aid for Ukraine. The meeting is now chaired by the United Kingdom and Germany, with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia Colby Badhwar attending for the second time in this reduced capacity. The absence of top US defense officials reflects the Trump administration's continued distancing from direct involvement in Ukraine's war effort.
The United States did not send its defense secretary or NATO commander to the meeting, with the UK and Germany now chairing it instead of Washington.
