The Kremlin said on Thursday that Western countries’ decision to supply Ukraine with modern tanks meant they were part of the conflict. The position of the Russian presidency comes a day after Germany and the US approved the shipment of Leopard 2 and M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev.
“European capitals and Washington constantly explain that sending various types of weapons, including tanks, does not in any way mean that they are involved in hostilities. We strongly disagree. In Moscow, this is seen as direct involvement in the conflict. We see it increasing,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
Germany announced on Wednesday that it had given the green light to send 14 Leopard 2s and to allow other countries to supply this type of combat vehicle to Ukraine. The US, on the other hand, announced through the voice of President Joe Biden that they would send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces.
The decision to authorize the deployment of tanks in Kiev “follows our known line of support for Ukraine in the best possible way,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz told his spokesman, Steffen Hebestreit. “We operate internationally in a very coordinated manner,” he added.
The German government said in a statement that it will initially deliver 14 of its Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine.
Then it was the turn of US President Joe Biden to announce the shipment of 31 M1 Abrams. “These tanks are further evidence of our enduring and relentless commitment to Ukraine and our confidence in the capabilities of the Ukrainian armed forces,” he said.
However, Biden said this decision is not an “offensive threat against Russia”.
On Twitter, Zelensky said he was “sincerely grateful” to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and all of Ukraine’s friends in Germany for this decision to send Leopard 2 tanks to the Ukrainian army as “important and timely”.
After Joe Biden’s statement, the Ukrainian president thanked his US counterpart for the “strong decision”. “An important step on the way to victory,” Zelensky emphasized.
Source: DN
