Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awaits “powerful decisions” from the Western allies, who meet this Friday in Ramstein, Germany, recalling the need to strengthen the defense to combat the Russian invasion.
“We are preparing for the Ramstein tomorrow [sexta-feira] – we expect powerful decisions. We expect a powerful package of military support from the United States,” Zelensky stressed, in the usual daily evening address to the nation.
Military assistance to kyiv will be discussed at the meeting of the Defense Contact Group for Ukraine, which will take place on Friday at the US military base in Ramstein in southwestern Germany.
One of the problems is the supply of modern Western main battle tanks to Ukraine, such as the German-built Leopard 2.
Germany has so far refused to authorize the delivery of Leopard tanks from other NATO countries to Ukraine, stating that this decision can only be taken “in coordination” with the Allies, after already supplying Gepard-type armored vehicles. German high-tech anti-aircraft combat equipment) and have committed to sending Marders (Germany’s infantry fighting vehicles, used in the Cold War), while on Monday it began delivering Patriot system batteries to Poland.
“Many countries are prepared to deliver tanks to us, they are motivated and support us, but they are waiting for the relevant documents from the countries that have the right to authorize (…) We are all waiting for the consent of the country. [fabricante] who owns the rights to the respective licenses”, said the Ukrainian head of state, quoted by the Interfax-Ukraine agency.
Defense ministers and representatives of ten NATO countries today demanded the urgent shipment of more heavy weapons to kyiv, including tanks, on the eve of the Ramstein meeting.
The UK has already promised 14 Challenger 2 heavy tanks and 600 Brimstone missiles, and Poland says it is ready to send 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks if Berlin allows them to be sent to Ukraine.
The United States has already supplied Ukraine with Bradley main battle tanks and will continue to send military equipment to kyiv forces.
Bradleys are main battle tanks with lighter armor and a smaller gun, typically 25mm compared to the 120mm Abrams, which the US considers inappropriate for the conflict in Ukraine.
US media reported on Wednesday that the United States will announce a major new military assistance package for Ukraine on Friday, which will include artillery, ammunition and Stryker armored vehicles.
Also today, Zelensky said there are several European countries, including Portugal, available to supply Western tanks.
Volodymyr Zelensky also stressed, in his daily speech, that the partners today made “several powerful decisions” to strengthen the Ukrainian defense, in particular, the reinforcement of artillery.
The Ukrainian head of state thanked Estonia for the country’s “biggest military aid package” so far, for “shells and ammunition”, and Sweden for the new military package for NLAW, Archers and IFV.
He also thanked Denmark for the decision on the ‘Caesar’ mobile artillery systems, which will “significantly strengthen” the Ukrainian Army, and Lithuania for the new military package for anti-aircraft systems, ammunition and helicopters.
The military offensive launched on February 24, 2022 by Russia in Ukraine has so far caused the flight of more than 14 million people -6.5 million internally displaced persons and almost eight million to European countries-, according to the latest data from the UN, which catalogs this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since the Second World War (1939-1945).
Source: TSF
