Defense Ministers See No Imminent Peace for Ukraine; Allies Pledge €21 Billion in Aid

On April 11, 2025, in Brussels, Germany's Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umiérov stated that peace in the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is not expected in the near future. This announcement followed a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, comprising approximately 50 nations, convened at NATO headquarters to bolster military support for Kyiv. The meeting was co-chaired by Pistorius and the UK's John Healey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth participated via videoconference. The UK announced that the group pledged over €21 billion in military aid to Ukraine.