U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reacts to words of thanks for his work for the Ukraine Defense Contact Group from German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, as Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy applauds. The group met for a 25th session and the eighth time at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, Jan. 9, 2025, as Austin’s time as defense secretary comes to an end later this month. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed to President-elect Donald Trump to help prevent his country from being “erased off the map,” following the announcement Thursday of a final $500 million military aid package under the outgoing Biden administration.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced the weapons deal with Zelenskyy by his side at the U.S.-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein, a gathering of representatives of about 50 partner nations who have come to Ukraine’s defense since Russia launched its full-scale invasion nearly three years ago.

Austin and other senior leaders made a case for continuing the meetings once Trump, who has criticized U.S. aid to Ukraine, assumes office.

“Here is the fundamental truth: Ukraine’s fight matters to all of us,” Austin said. “[Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s war is a challenge to free people everywhere.”

Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to Austin for leading the contact group and for his help sustaining Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion.

“It’s clear that a new chapter starts for Europe and the entire world just 11 days from now, at a time when we have … to rely on one another even more and achieve even greater results together,” Zelenskyy said, referring to Trump’s inauguration.

“We’ve come such a long way that it would honestly be crazy to drop the ball now and not keep building on the defense coalition we’ve created,” Zelenskyy said. “No matter what’s going on in the war, everyone wants to feel sure that their country won’t just be erased off the map.”

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, left, speaks at the opening of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Jan. 9, 2025 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, as Ukrainian President Vlodymyr Zelenskyy, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and his Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov listen. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes his opening remarks at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Jan. 9, 2025, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Jan. 9, 2025 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. It is the 25th meeting of the group and eighth time they have gathered at Ramstein. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Whether the contact group will continue under Trump remains to be seen, said German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, while speaking to reporters during a break from meeting with allies. But “the best solution is to continue the format as it used to be with the leadership of the United States of America,” he said.

If Trump decides to bow out of the group, then Europe must be prepared to work even more closely together “for its own defense,” Pistorius said.

But “we don’t know anything yet,” he said. “It’s a matter of politeness and democratic respect to wait and see what is the decision” of the new administration.

The aid announced by Austin will come from existing stockpiles and includes air defense missiles, ammunition, air-to-ground munitions and other equipment to support Ukraine’s F-16s.

Zelenskyy said his country particularly needs more drones and air-defense systems, and that the flow of supplies to the front lines must continue.

U.S. Army Gen. Christopher Cavoli, NATO’s supreme allied commander, listens to opening remarks at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Jan. 9, 2025, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Representatives from around 50 countries took part in the meeting. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius answers a reporter's question during the the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Jan. 9, 2025, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. "The best solution is to continue the format as it used to be with the leadership of the United States of America,” Pistorius said. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Canadian Defense Minister Bill Blair talks to reporters during the the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Jan. 9, 2025, at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy makes his opening remarks at the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting Jan 9, 2025 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany, flanked by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)

Since the contact group’s founding in April 2022, the coalition has committed more than $122 billion in security assistance to Ukraine, Austin said, calling the collective effort to help Ukraine one of the greatest honors and causes of his life.

The United States has been the biggest supporter, providing more than $65 billion in security assistance.

Whether the aid will continue under Trump is unclear. Trump has pledged to bring a quick end to the war, without offering details. His team is said to be considering a plan that would see European troops in charge of a demilitarized zone in Ukraine.

“No responsible leader would let Putin have his way,” Austin added during his closing remarks to reporters Thursday.

Zelenskyy has continued to rule out ceding territory to Russia, which controls a swath of Ukraine roughly equal in size to the state of Pennsylvania.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Pentagon spokesman Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder walk off the scene following Austin’s last press conference at a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, Jan. 9, 2025 at Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)