Ukraine failed to secure access to longer-range weapons and the right to strike into Russian territory despite repeated requests, at the US air base of Ramstein, Germany, on Friday (6 September), in front of more than 50 nations, with Washington refusing to change policy.

Ukraine “has the conditions, to create the conditions, to defend the southern territory,” US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters after the meeting.

Austin emphasised he did not believe that “one specific capability will be decisive, but our approach in integrating things and making sure [Ukrainians] have the right skill set to employ those capabilities, and they are linked to specific objectives”.

His comments come as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy repeated his request on Friday, for Western countries to supply additional long-range weapons. He also lobbied against restrictions on their use, meaning he wanted to be allowed to use them against Russian territory.

Kyiv has made advances into Russia in the past month, entering the Kursk region, controlling 1,300 km2, according to Zelenskyy, while continuing to defend the frontline on its territory.

“We need to have this long-range capability not only on the occupied territory of Ukraine but also on the Russian territory so that Russia is motivated to seek peace,” added Zelenskyy.

Austin however rebuffed the request, by telling reporters that Ukraine “has a pretty significant capability of its own to address targets well beyond of [US-made] ATCAMS and [UK-made] Storm shadow.”

Zelensky is backed by some, such as the Estonians, although they do not provide long-range weapons.

“The Ukrainians know from where [Russian] strikes are coming from, but those points are currently out of their reach. Therefore, let Ukraine strike back at these air bases to eliminate the sources of attacks and save lives,” Defence Minister Hanno Pevkur said in a statement.

“Ukraine has the right to defend itself. And according to International Law, this right does not end at the border,” NATO’s Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday, he was not in the meeting, but visiting Norway.

In the course of the day, some countries announced new commitments to deliver additional weapons, as requested by Zelenskyy.

Zelenskyy also said on Friday that “the number of air defence systems that have not yet been delivered is significant – this is what was agreed upon, and this is what has not been fully implemented.”

In July, Kyiv’s backers promised more air defence systems, long-range missiles, and ammunition in the margin of the NATO Washington summit.

At Ramstein, London pledged more air defence systems. The US also announced a new $250 million package of security assistance.

Last week, Norway also promised to transfer defence technologies to Ukraine to support home-made production of 155 mm shells.

The Ukraine Contact Group was created by Washington after Russia illegally attacked Ukraine in 2022, as a platform for coordination of aid deliveries to Kyiv, especially military deliveries.

The Ramstein group’s leadership is to be transferred from the US to the Western NATO military alliance in the coming months, as decided in spring.

The main goal is to de-politicise the leadership of the platform, free it from government changes, and plan for the long-term vision of the Ukrainian armed forces, especially given the possibility of a change in administration in the US, that could see former Republican and NATO-hawk Donald Trump returning to the White House.

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