Ramstein-format meeting postponed after Biden cancels foreign visits

The upcoming Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) summit, scheduled for Oct. 12 in Germany, has been postponed following U.S. President Joe Biden's decision to cancel his overseas travel to address Hurricane Milton, according to a statement by Ramstein Air Base reported by AFP on Oct. 9.

Biden was expected to convene the first leader-level meeting of the Ramstein summit in Germany, just weeks before the U.S. presidential election. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was anticipated to present his victory plan during the summit. However, the U.S. president postponed his trips to Germany and Angola to oversee the emergency response to the hurricane, as confirmed by a White House spokesperson.

No new date for the summit has been announced yet, though a statement indicated that announcements regarding future UDCG meetings would follow.

The Kyiv Independent sought comment from Ukraine's Presidential Office but had not received a response by the time of publication.

The Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which is U.S.-led and includes over 50 countries, such as all 32 NATO members, typically convenes at the U.S. Ramstein Air Base in Germany. The last meeting, held on Sept. 6, marked the group’s 24th gathering since its formation in April 2022. During that session, Zelensky attended in person and secured additional military aid from key allies, including the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada.

Zelensky had already shared his five-point victory plan with Biden during a visit to the U.S. in late September and also discussed it with presidential candidates Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, and members of Congress. While the full details of the plan have not been made public, it reportedly includes both military and diplomatic elements, such as Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership.

According to Kyiv, the plan aims to strengthen Ukraine’s negotiating position and pressure Russia into agreeing to a fair peace. The Washington Post, citing an undisclosed diplomat, reported that Ukraine may be offered "more concrete steps" towards NATO membership during the postponed Ramstein summit.

Russian drone attacked Odesa: five injured, nine-storey building damaged

Five residents of Odesa Oblast were injured during a Russian drone attack on the night of 8-9 October.

The attack marked the third consecutive night of drone strikes targeting Odesa. Air defense forces managed to intercept most of the drones, but damage was still reported in the Odesa district. The windows and facade of a nine-story building were damaged, although no fires followed. Five people were injured in the attack, three of whom were hospitalized in moderate condition.

The drone strikes also sparked a fire on the top floor of an unfinished building, which spread over 400 square meters before being quickly extinguished. Additionally, windows were damaged in one of the medical facilities in the area.

Zelenskyy could soften his stance on the ending plan

Western allies believe that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy may be considering a more flexible approach to ending the war with Russia, according to sources close to NATO.

Although Zelenskyy has consistently ruled out any compromise on Ukraine's sovereignty or territorial integrity, officials have indicated that Ukrainian leadership is increasingly acknowledging the need to find a resolution to the war. Zelenskyy was reportedly expected to signal this shift during the planned Ramstein meeting, which has now been postponed due to U.S. President Joe Biden canceling his trip to Germany.

The report notes that Western allies are pressuring Ukraine to present a more concrete plan for ending the war, particularly given the current military situation, funding challenges, and uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election.

A key issue in future negotiations could be Ukraine's membership in NATO, a topic that has divided Ukraine's allies. Biden is facing pressure to extend a direct invitation to Kyiv to join the alliance, though sources suggest that such an offer is unlikely at this stage. Nonetheless, NATO membership could become a potential bargaining point in future talks involving Russia.

A NATO insider mentioned that any offer short of full NATO membership would put Ukraine in a difficult position when it comes to ceasefire negotiations. Since Russia opposes Ukraine's NATO membership, it remains unclear what approach could bring all parties to the negotiating table.