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UK Defence Secretary John Healey opened today's 33rd meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) in Brussels by welcoming Ukrainian Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov on his first participation in this format.
Healey stressed that the war launched by Vladimir Putin against Ukraine "thought he would win it within a week," but four years later, Ukrainian forces are striking targets deep into Russian territory, inflicting heavy losses on the front and recapturing territory.
He confirmed that allies at today's meeting pledged a total of $35 billion (around £25-29 billion) in new military aid to Ukraine, including urgent support for air defence. Britain itself announced a new package of over £500 million for air defence systems and missiles.
"UDCG has a clear message for Putin: we are more united and determined than ever. We will increase the pressure on Russia and we want 2026 to be the year this war ends, the year we secure peace," Healey declared.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, who co-chaired the meeting with Healey, said that last week he and NATO chief Mark Rutte had written to all member states asking for additional support. He announced that Germany was ready to send five more PAC-3 interceptors for the Patriot systems if other countries together contributed 30, expressing optimism that this would be achieved quickly.
Mykhailo Fedorov thanked partners for their continued support, stressing that Putin "cannot win on the ground, which is why he is terrorizing the civilian population and energy infrastructure."
Finally, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said he had visited Ukraine last week and seen firsthand the devastation caused by Russian attacks. He reiterated his call for 2026 to be the year when Russia is no longer able to continue the war.
The meeting at NATO headquarters in Brussels marked a united front of Western allies, with about 50 countries participating, at a critical moment as the war approaches the fifth anniversary of the full Russian invasion.
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