E5 defense ministers to meet in Berlin on Nov 14

German Defense Ministry spokesperson Mitko Muller confirmed this at a briefing on Monday, Ukrinform's correspondent reports.

He said that the five defense ministers would meet again in Berlin to mark the first anniversary of the European Group of Five format and discuss current issues, primarily support for Ukraine, the overall security situation, the level of threats in Europe, and how Europe and the E5 could appropriately set impulses for responding to current challenges.

Muller also recalled that the format was initiated by Minister Boris Pistorius a year ago.

As was reported earlier, the E5 is an informal format that brings together the five leading European countries in terms of defense capabilities: Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom. It was created in the context of a strengthened focus on European security, support for Ukraine, and the growing role of Europe in its own defense.

Its participants discuss enhancing coordination among member countries on defense and security issues, such as increasing joint efforts in arms production, standardization, mutual integration, and more. An important component is support for Ukraine, particularly in the context of involving defense industry enterprises.

The first meeting took place in Berlin on November 25, 2024. Since then, there have been four more meetings, the most recent of which was in Rome on May 16.