The Western countries allied with Ukraine announced this Friday the increase in military aid to the country invaded by Russia, after a meeting in Germany in which they did not agree on the supply of German Leopard 2 tanks.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski regretted that his allies did not seize this opportunity, although he did not give up.
“Yes, we still have to fight to achieve the shipment of modern tanks, but every day we manage to show that there is no other alternative than to make a decision in this regard,” Zelensky said in his daily speech.
The United States has hinted that the shipment of German-made Leopard 2 tanks, which is not being produced due to reluctance from Berlin, could be unlocked in the coming weeks.
“We have a window of opportunity from now until spring (…). It is not a long time and we have to unite our best capabilities, “said the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, after the meeting at the US Ramstein airbase in western Germany.
His Polish counterpart, Mariusz Blaszczak, said he was “convinced” that they would eventually agree on sending the tanks.
more military aid
Despite the lack of agreement on the Leopard 2, several countries announced new packages of military aid to kyiv.
Zelensky stressed that “several hundred combat vehicles are added to the Ukrainian arsenal” and that there were “significant results in terms of missiles and anti-aircraft systems.”
The United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark announced new military aid before the meeting in Ramstein.
Washington unlocked a new package worth $2.5 billion, which includes 59 Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and a large number of armored personnel carriers, according to the Pentagon.
However, this new support does not include heavy tanks, such as the Abrams, which Washington refuses to hand over to kyiv citing maintenance and training reasons.
The UK will send an additional 600 Brimstone-type missiles, Denmark 19 Caesar guns and Sweden Archer long-range guns. Finland joined this new aid on Friday, with a package that will include heavy artillery and ammunition.
possible counteroffensive
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov highlighted the arrival of this new military aid, thanked his “friend and colleague” Austin and promised that “the Bradleys and Patriots will change the course of the war.”
The US Secretary of Defense indicated that Ukraine could launch a counter-offensive around next spring and that allies should prepare to support it.