Since September of 2023, the format of the work of Ukraine Defense Contact Group has been reoriented towards long-term strategic planning in matters of strengthening Ukraine's capabilities, acting director of the Department of International Defense Cooperation of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Colonel Hennadiy Kovalenko said.

"Yesterday I really liked that Celeste Wallander, U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Austin, said that in fact, starting in September of this year, we switched to the Ramstein 2.0 format. Ramstein 2.0 is a transition, let's say, from meeting immediate needs, or quick needs in English, to more systematic, planned and long-term work," he said at a briefing on Thursday.

Kovalenko said this format provides for strategic long-term planning of support for Ukraine within the framework of existing "coalitions of opportunity."

In turn, the head of the press and information department of the Ministry of Defense, Ilarion Pavliuk, said Ukraine very positively assesses the results of the 17th meeting in the Ramstein format.

"And I want to say that we are very pleased with how involved and interested our partners are in the process of supporting Ukraine. In particular, it is very important that yesterday our key partner the United States, namely Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, effectively removed any speculation about the United States supposedly having to choose between Israel and Ukraine," he said.