Ukraine Asks West for More Arms; Germany, US reluctant to send tanks – 01/19/2023

Ukraine on Thursday urged its Western allies to “significantly increase” arms supplies to help the country deal with the Russian military. The order is aimed at a dozen countries, including Germany and Turkey, that have Panther tanks, which Kiev has been asking relentlessly for. According to the Council of Europe, the NATO allies pledged “support with heavy and modern weapons” to counter Russian attacks.

Ukraine on Thursday urged its Western allies to “significantly increase” arms supplies to help the country deal with the Russian military. The order is aimed at a dozen countries, including Germany and Turkey, that have Panther tanks, which Kiev has been asking relentlessly for. According to the Council of Europe, the NATO allies pledged “support with heavy and modern weapons” to counter Russian attacks.

“We call on all partner countries that have already provided or plan to provide military assistance,” Ukraine’s defense and foreign ministers, Oleksiy Reznikov and Dmytro Kouleba, respectively, stressed in a joint statement.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky criticized Germany on Thursday Feel free to supply tanks to your country, He said it was not a “good strategy”. “You shouldn’t doubt yourself or compare yourself. Sometimes someone said, ‘I’ll give tanks if someone else wants them,'” Zelensky said in a video conference speech on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos.

The Ukrainian president refers to press reports that Berlin will supply tanks only if the US sends Abrams vehicles.

For now, Washington is unwilling to provide these advanced tanks, a Pentagon official said Wednesday. US officials justify the decision by Kiev’s difficulties in maintaining the tanks and the logistical effort required.

In this context, the Ukrainian president is increasing pressure on Germany to authorize the supply of more powerful Leopard tanks. In his speech, Zelensky reiterated that the aim was to “liberate all our territories,” including Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. “Crimea is our land, our territory, our sea and our mountains. Give us your weapons and we will. Take back our land,” he told his Western allies.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will make the announcement this Thursday. New German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius On the authorization of the transfer of German-made tanks to Ukraine.

The US has already pledged about $24 billion to help Ukraine defend itself against Russian forces. President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to approve a new aid package worth more than $2 billion.

Berlin, for its part, will allow Ukraine to send German-made tanks to defend itself against Russia if the US agrees to send its own tanks, a German government source told Reuters.

Sweden confirms support

“Military support for Ukraine is absolutely critical,” Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristerson told a press conference on Thursday. Sweden has announced that it is sending new military aid to Kiev.

The Scandinavian country plans to send 50 armored fighting vehicles and infantry, NLAW man-portable anti-tank missiles, artillery systems and long-range guns. The grant amounts to SEK 4.3 billion (€386.70 million).

“Ukrainians fight for European values”

European Council President Charles Michel announced Thursday that he will travel to Kiev to discuss new support measures for Ukraine with President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Concrete measures to ensure that (Ukraine) becomes stronger and more powerful (…)” will be discussed, Michael said in a video message posted on Twitter. “Ukrainians are fighting for their land and the future of their children. But they are also fighting for our common European values ​​of peace and prosperity. They need and deserve our support,” said the head of the Council of Europe, which represents the 27. Member States of the European Union (EU).

Michael said he would also meet Ukrainian Prime Minister Denis Shmikal and members of parliament in Kiev. The visit comes ahead of a meeting in Ramstein (Germany) that will bring together about 50 countries led by the United States to discuss the Ukraine issue. The group’s talks will focus on coordinating aid to Kiev, including the provision of heavy armor and modern air defense systems.

The Kremlin reacts

The Kremlin hit back on Thursday, saying it would lead to a “dangerous” escalation of the conflict if the West provided Ukraine with long-range weapons capable of striking Russian territory. “This is very dangerous, which means the conflict is going to a new level, which is certainly not good for European security,” said Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Russian president.

Since the start of the invasion, the West has refused to send long-range missiles to Kiev, fearing it would fuel the escalation of the conflict.

Russia has accused Ukraine’s military of carrying out drone strikes on Russian targets in the annexed Crimean peninsula and hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.