E5 Group Talks: European Defense Ministers to Meet in Berlin on Security, Support for Ukraine

The defense ministers of Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the United Kingdom will gather in Berlin on Friday, Nov. 14, for the latest meeting of the European Group of Five (E5) – an informal format focused on strengthening European security and coordinating military support for Ukraine.

Strengthening Europe’s security and support for Ukraine

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will host his counterparts at the Bendlerblock, headquarters of the German Defense Ministry, along with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. According to the German Defense Ministry, this will be the sixth E5 meeting overall and the second held in Berlin since the group’s establishment nearly a year ago.

“The participants will exchange views on measures to strengthen security and defense in Europe as well as on the situation in Ukraine,” the ministry said, noting that Ukrainian Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal is expected to join the discussions via video link.

Marking one year of the E5 format

At a press briefing earlier this week, German Defense Ministry spokesperson Mitko Müller confirmed that the five defense ministers would meet in Berlin to mark the first anniversary of the E5 and discuss support for Ukraine, the overall security situation in Europe, and how Europe “can set appropriate impulses to respond to current challenges,” Ukrinform reported.

The E5 Group, initiated by Pistorius in November 2024, brings together Europe’s five leading military powers to improve coordination on defense and security matters. The format was created amid Europe’s growing role in its own defense and the need to streamline cooperation on arms production, interoperability, and joint industrial projects.

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Unified front against Russian aggression

The previous E5 meeting, held in London in September, focused on bolstering Poland’s air defenses and condemning Russia’s violation of Polish airspace with drones. The ministers emphasized NATO’s unity in the face of what British Defense Minister John Healey called a “new era of threat” for Europe, reaffirming that “a secure Europe needs a strong Ukraine.”

Friday’s discussions are expected to focus not only on Ukraine but also on how European partners can bolster joint defense initiatives and strengthen Europe’s security architecture in the face of persistent threats.