“A new chapter has begun for Europe, a moment of opportunity has dawned,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said from the US base in Ramstein, where the Contact Group for his country is meeting. Mr. Zelensky asked for further help from his partners and additional sanctions against Russia.

“No one is too young to make a mark in history. It would be crazy to give up now. The coalition must continue“said Mr. Zelensky at the beginning of the meeting and expressed the belief that “the more resolutely she defends herself Ukrainethe more determined the US will be to support it». The Ukrainian president once again thanked his partners, asked them for further assistance and emphasized that support to Ukraine is for the benefit of the security and of their own countries. “Sour aim is to end the war as soon as possible”, stressed Volodymyr Zelensky and suggested new sanctions against Russia, mainly in the energy sector. “We need to make sure (Vladimir) Putin has no more money to continue this war”he underlined.

He also stressed that the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House on January 20 opens a “new chapter” for the Europeans, who must “cooperate even more”, said the Ukrainian president, assuring that he sees in it “a period of opportunity”.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, also from Ramstein, pledged his country’s continued support for Ukraine, which he said “is important to all of us” and “we must not give up.” On the German side, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius highlighted the need for the format of the Contact Group on Ukraine “to be kept alive” and added that the results so far in this context “should inspire us to make every effort for this which will follow». On behalf of the European Union, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs, Kaya Kalas, assured that the EU is ready to take a leading role, “in the event that the US is not willing to do so”, but at the same time expressed confidence that all EU member states and the US will continue to support Ukraine. “Let’s not speculate about the future of American support. I believe that the US, regardless of leadership, has no interest in Russia being the strongest power in the world“, said Mrs. Kalas.