“Yes, we will still have to fight for the supply of modern tanks, but every day it becomes clearer that there is no other solution than to make a decision about tanks,” Zelensky said in his nightly televised address.
“Our partners have a principled attitude, they will support Ukraine as long as it takes for our victory,” he continued.
Meeting at the US military base in Ramstein, Germany, Ukraine’s western allies were unable to agree on the supply of tanks, particularly due to Germany’s lack of approval.
Kiev’s expectations were high ahead of this meeting of 50 countries to coordinate allied military aid against Moscow, as Ukraine waited to receive the necessary weapons to launch a new offensive against Russian forces.
Zelensky, who on Thursday called on Westerners to “significantly” increase their supplies, congratulated himself today on the meeting in Ramstein that will “strengthen Ukraine’s resilience”.
For example, he referred to “several hundred combat vehicles added to the Ukrainian arsenal” and “significant achievements regarding missile launchers and air systems”.
At the same meeting, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said it was important that the Allies do not delay in helping Kiev, including Germany, which has been criticized for its resistance in approving the transfer of Leopard 2 battle tanks. , made in Germany.
For the US defense secretary, Germany is “a reliable ally”, despite its reluctance to supply Ukraine with heavy war tanks, recognizing that “we can all do more” to help Kiev.
“They have been reliable for a long time and I really believe they will continue to be an ally in the future,” Austin explained, referring to Germany.
In the context of the same meeting of the Contact Group for Ukraine, and according to diplomatic sources quoted by international bodies, the German government has today postponed the decision on the delivery of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Kyiv, stating that it will review the reserves and availability of this material.
Portugal was represented at this meeting by the Minister of National Defence, Helena Carreiras.
Portugal will send another 14 M113 armored vehicles and eight high-capacity electrical generators to Ukraine, bringing “the total amount of military equipment, lethal and non-lethal, delivered to the country” to 532 tons, the defense minister announced.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and nearly 8 million to European countries – according to the most recent data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
Currently, 17.7 million Ukrainians need humanitarian aid and 9.3 million need food aid and shelter.
The Russian invasion – justified by the Russian President, Vladimir Putin, with the need to “denazify” and demilitarize Ukraine for Russia’s security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia to impose political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented 7,031 dead civilians and 11,327 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are far below the real ones.
Source: DN
