US Secretary of Defence Pete Hagel has denied speculation that US support for Ukraine has weakened due to his absence from the latest meeting of the Ramstein Contact Group on Ukraine’s defence. He said this during a briefing in Brussels, The Guardian reports.
Asked by journalists whether his absence should be taken as a “signal of a withdrawal of support”, Hughes said that the United States was represented at the meeting – the country was represented by Permanent Representative to NATO Matthew Whitaker.
“Matthew Whitaker was present on behalf of the United States and made a significant contribution to the group’s work,” the Pentagon chief said.
He also thanked the United Kingdom and Germany for their active role in leading the Ramstein format.
“From the very beginning of this administration, we agreed with our British and German colleagues that they would lead the contact group. They have taken that leadership, and I am grateful to them for that,” Hegseth said.
The statement came amid ongoing discussions in Western capitals about the sustainability of support for Ukraine in the face of a protracted war and changing political priorities in the United States.
