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Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will not attend the upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting in Brussels, marking the first time a US Defense Secretary has skipped the meeting—either in person or virtually—since Russia invaded Ukraine.
Some shit you should know before you read: If you’re unaware, the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) is an international coalition formed in April 2022 by then-U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The group was created to coordinate and streamline military aid, training, and security assistance to Ukraine from over 50 participating countries. Initially centered around Ramstein Air Base in Germany—hence its “Ramstein format” nickname—the UDCG became a vital forum for aligning strategic defense efforts, sharing intelligence, and assessing Ukraine’s evolving battlefield needs. During its meetings, defense ministers and military leaders review the status of the war, pledge new support packages, discuss logistics and defense production, and ensure that aid is delivered effectively and sustainably.
What’s going on now: First reported by Defense News, citing a source familiar with the matter, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth will not attend the next Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting scheduled for April 11 in Brussels. This marks the first time in the coalition’s 26-meeting history that the US Secretary of Defense will be absent, signaling a notable shift in American engagement under the Trump administration.
According to US and European officials, Hegseth is not expected to join virtually either, and the Pentagon is unlikely to send any senior representatives — a notable departure from past practice where top US defense officials led key sessions and provided critical intelligence and strategic briefings.
The upcoming UDCG meeting will be chaired jointly by the United Kingdom and Germany, both of which have stepped up leadership roles in light of waning US involvement. The meeting is expected to focus on coordinating ongoing military support for Ukraine, expanding European defense production, financing new arms enterprises, and enhancing long-term security commitments.
The summit will follow a separate meeting of the “coalition of the willing” on April 10, which will also be held in Brussels and hosted by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu and UK Defense Secretary John Healey.
This all comes as President Trump has voiced his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over stalled peace negotiations with Ukraine, with Trump alluding to potential secondary sanctions on Russian oil exports.
We’ve reached out to the Pentagon for comment.
