(11 Apr 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Brussels, Belgium – 11 April 2025
1. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, UK Defense Minister, John Healey, and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov arriving
2. SOUNDBITE (English) John Healey, UK Defense Minister:
"So this UDCG (Ukraine Defence Contact Group) could not meet at a more important time because 2025 is the critical year for this war in Ukraine. And now is the critical moment in that war, a moment for our defense industries to step up, and they are. A moment for our militaries to step up, and they are. A moment for our governments to step up, and we are. And we are sending a signal to (Russian President, Vladimir) Putin, but we’re also sending a message to Ukraine, and we are saying to Ukraine, we stand with you in the fight and we will stand with you in the peace."
3. Wide of briefing
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Rustem Umerov, Ukrainian Defense Minister:
"We’re thankful for the coalition capabilities that has been presented today to the lead nations, to the contributing nations and, it is one of the largest assistance that, we are getting. We today, as, John has announced, have heard the pledges of 21 billion in euros, which is one of the largest and we’re thankful to each nation that has provided this support. (Ukrainian) President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy asked to focus on air defense, on new Patriot systems. We have outlined this request to our partners, and we’re working together on air defense interceptors."
++ENDS ON SOUNDBITE++
STORYLINE:
Britain on Friday announced a “surge” of military support to Ukraine, as the war-ravaged country’s Western backers gathered to drum up more weapons and ammunition to fight off Russia’s invasion and a U.S. envoy flew to St. Petersburg amid ongoing ceasefire efforts.
Speaking at a joint press briefing at NATO headquarters in Brussels with the meeting’s co-chairs, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reiterated that a key issue was strengthening his country’s air defenses.
"We’re thankful for the coalition capabilities that has been presented today to the lead nations, to the contributing nations," he said.
Earlier, Britain said that in a joint effort with Norway just over $580 million would be spent to provide hundreds of thousands of military drones, radar systems and anti-tank mines, as well as repair and maintenance contracts to keep Ukrainian armored vehicles on the battlefield.
Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was back in Russia on Friday but he didn’t confirm whether he will meet with President Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff, who has been pressing the Kremlin to accept a truce, met with Putin envoy Kirill Dmitriev in St. Petersburg, footage released by Russian media showed.
Russian forces hold the advantage in Ukraine, with the war now in its fourth year.
Ukraine has endorsed a U.S. ceasefire proposal, but Russia has effectively blocked it by imposing far-reaching conditions.
The Russian delay in accepting Washington’s proposal has frustrated U.S. President Donald Trump and fueled doubts about whether Putin really wants to stop the fighting while his bigger army has momentum on the battlefield.
Ukrainian officials and military analysts believe Russia is preparing to launch a fresh military offensive in coming weeks to ramp up pressure and strengthen the Kremlin’s hand in the negotiations.
Friday’s meeting is the 27th gathering of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group.
It’s being chaired by Britain and Germany.
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