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Defense ministers of NATO and 50 countries are sitting in a meeting in Germany. From there may come the announcement of more arms supplies to Ukraine.
Western military alliance NATO and Western countries are trying to reach an agreement to supply Ukraine with more advanced weapons. Defense ministers of NATO and 50 countries started a meeting at the Ramstein airport in Germany on Friday. The meeting comes at a time when pressure is mounting on Germany to supply tanks to Ukraine.
From this conference will come the announcement of more arms supply to Ukraine. Russia started attacking Ukraine about 11 months ago. After that several such conferences were organized. At the beginning of the conference yesterday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin urged Ukraine to give everything. "Russia is massing again, recruiting troops and trying to gather more weapons," he said. This is not the time to slow down. Now is the time to get down with everything. The people of Ukraine are looking to us. However, the US defense minister did not say anything specific about the tank.
Last Thursday, the United States announced an additional $2.5 billion arms package for Ukraine. This package includes more armored vehicles and ammunition. Finland announced a new arms aid worth 434 million dollars. However, it does not include the heavy German-made Leopard-2 tank.
Germany says that these tanks can only be sent if there is an agreement between the allies. NATO armies across Europe have a large number of Leopard tanks. Defense experts say that such tanks are the most suitable for Ukraine. However, Berlin has the power to block any decision to export these tanks.
Meanwhile, according to a CNN report, a deadlock has arisen between the United States and Germany regarding the supply of tanks to Ukraine. German officials have indicated that Berlin will not provide Leopard tanks until the US supplies Kiev with M1 Abrams tanks. Even these tanks made by Germany in the hands of other countries will not be allowed to be supplied. However, the Pentagon said that it is not thinking of giving its own tanks to Kiev citing high maintenance costs.
Last Tuesday, German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck said, "If the United States sends tanks to Ukraine, it will make things easier for Germany." The next day, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made a similar gesture. He said, 'We never do anything alone; We do it with allies, especially with the United States.' However, the United States is uncomfortable with such a position of Germany. "They've put us in a difficult situation," an official in President Joe Biden's administration told CNN. Germany is asking for tanks instead of tanks. They are not flexible about sending the Leopard, considering other offers made by the US.
Extra tanks won't work: Kremlin
Meanwhile, Russia says supplying Ukraine with additional tanks will not change the current dynamics of the war. The Kremlin also said the West would regret the 'delusion' that Ukraine would win the war. Yesterday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters, "We have repeatedly said that such arms supply will not bring about any fundamental changes, but will increase the problems of Ukraine and the country's people." He said, we see increasing indirect and sometimes direct involvement of NATO countries in this conflict.
New territories occupied by Russia
Russian forces have taken control of a new area in the eastern part of Ukraine. Pro-Russian fighters have claimed control of the Klishivka area south of Bakhmut. Russian-backed forces in Donetsk made the claim yesterday.
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