Ukraine Says US and German Tank Vow to ‘Only the Beginning’ and Calls for Fighter Jets | Ukraine

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A senior Ukrainian official hailed commitments by the United States and Germany to send advanced battle tanks to counter Russian aggression as “only the beginning,” as he said hundreds of tanks are needed, while Kyiv renewed its calls for fighter jets.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, made the remarks while President Volodymyr Zelensky applauded the decision of the Western allies, urging them to provide large quantities of tanks quickly.

“The key now is speed and volumes. Speed ​​in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. He said in his nightly video address on Wednesday.

Moment Zelenskiy has learned that Germany has agreed to send tanks to Ukraine during the Sky News interview – with video

Joe Biden has agreed to send 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, after weeks of speculation. The reversal of the US position came after Germany confirmed that it would provide 14 of its Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine, and granting partner countries permission to re-export the other tanks.

Berlin’s decision reveals offers from Finland, Spain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Poland and Norway to supply manufactured German Panthers to Ukraine.

Zelensky celebrated the “very good news,” calling the United States’ decision to send Abrams “a very strong step.” There is a tank coalition. There is a decision to launch the supply of tanks for our defense. Modern tanks.

Leopard 2 inventories in Europe and NATO countries

Western officials believed that providing 100 tanks might be enough to make the difference in terms of holding ground in the event of a Russian spring offensive and then regaining control of territory. The first batch of Leopard 2 tanks is expected to arrive within three months.

Zelensky also said he had spoken to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and called for supplies of long-range missiles and aircraft to add to the commitments of the United States and Germany.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said he had also spoken to Poland’s foreign minister, Zbigniew Rau, about the fighter jets, a request that had been made repeatedly to NATO allies without success.

Fighter jets will be the “next big hurdle,” said Yury Sak, an advisor to Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. “If we get it,” he said, “the advantages on the battlefield will be enormous.” “It’s not just F-16s. Fourth-generation aircraft, that’s what we want.”

Previous calls for US-made aircraft have not borne fruit, but the Dutch government recently said it would consider transferring some of its 50 aircraft in coordination with allies. Ukraine has so far received only Soviet-era planes and spare parts for its air force.

Photo by Jerome Leopard A26

In public statements, Washington and Berlin denied any connection between their respective decisions about sending tanks, although media reports said German officials had made it clear in private that the Panthers were contingent on the United States making a similar commitment.

Berlin’s hesitant stance on the issue of battle tanks has caused concern among its Western allies, and bewilderment in Germany in recent days. Critics in Schulz’s ruling coalition have accused his chancellor of being paralyzed by intra-party struggles.

In a statement, Schultz said, “This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally.”

Russia denounced the American and German initiatives as “a somewhat disastrous plan”. “The main thing is that this is a completely clear overestimation of potential,” said Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman. [this] It would add to the armed forces of Ukraine. It’s another fallacy, a rather profound fallacy.”

The others reacted with more anger. “This very serious decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation,” said Sergei Nechaev, Moscow’s ambassador to Germany.

In announcing the dispatch of 31 Abrams tanks, Biden said, “There is no offensive threat to Russia.”

“Putin expected Europe and the United States to weaken our resolve,” the president said in the Roosevelt Room of the White House. He predicted that our support for Ukraine would collapse over time. He was wrong… These tanks are further proof of our enduring and unwavering commitment to Ukraine and our confidence in the skill of Ukrainian forces.”

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