Nine countries have already committed to sending about 150 Leopard tanks to Ukraine, US Chief of Staff General Mark Milley announced on Wednesday.
Speaking to journalists at the end of the 10th meeting of the Working Group on Military Aid to Kiev, Mark Milley did not specify whether this number, of 150 tanks, includes those that Germany, Poland and other countries had already announced they would deliver to Ukraine. .
However, Milley specified that Sweden had decided to provide 10 Leopard tanks and Norway would provide two NASAM air defense systems.
For its part, Canada announced that it will donate approximately 8,000 rounds of 155mm ammunition, as well as 12 air defense missiles from the inventory of the Canadian Forces and more than 1,800 rounds of tank training ammunition.
“But if Ukraine wants to protect its sovereign territory and defend its citizens in the long run, we must continue”in turn recalled US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.
The US official also assured that aid to the Russian-invaded country will not be stopped.
“We will help Ukraine maintain tanks, infantry fighting vehicles and other armored vehicles on their way to the front [de combate]. We will continue to urgently train soldiers in the capabilities we provide and the maneuvering and combined arms tactics they need to succeed.”creased.
Lloyd further emphasized that Ukraine is important not only to the United States, but also to the rest of the world, as it is about maintaining the rules of international order.
At the start of this virtual meeting, the US Secretary of Defense appealed to his allies to remain committed and “united” in sending aid to Ukraine.
Focused on coordinating long-term sustainable military assistance to Ukraine, the US-led Defense Contact Group of Ukraine is made up of 54 countries: all 30 NATO members and 24 others.
The military offensive launched by Russia in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 has so far led to the flight of more than 14.6 million people – 6.5 million internally displaced persons and more than 8.1 million to European countries – according to the latest data from the UN, which classifies this refugee crisis as the worst in Europe since World War II (1939-1945).
At least 18 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 Russian security – was condemned by the international community at large, which responded by sending weapons to Ukraine and Russia political and economic sanctions.
The UN presented 8,231 dead civilians and 13,734 wounded as confirmed since the start of the war, underlining that these numbers are far below the real ones.
Source: DN
