According to Ukraine, it needs “several hundred” war tanks for the intended reconquest of areas occupied by Russia.
“Every tank capable of fighting must be in front of us today,” wrote the head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak on Monday on the Telegram news channel. The decision on the delivery of Germany’s Leopard main battle tanks to Ukraine remained open on Monday.
Without a victory for Ukraine with a return to the 1991 borders and punishment for Russia, there will be neither stable development nor a clear world order, Yermak argued. “This is a front of civilization against the backwardness and barbarism of the swamps,” the 51-year-old stressed, referring to Moscow. Ukraine has been repelling a Russian invasion for nearly eleven months. Financially and armamentally, Kyiv is almost entirely dependent on the West.
Stoltenberg: Allies must deliver more
During the debate, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg emphasized the unity of the alliance and once again called for more weapons deliveries. Since the start of the war nearly a year ago, there has been “an unprecedented level of support” in the alliance, including Germany, Stoltenberg said on Monday on Welt TV station when asked if the alliance was at a crucial stage in the war. . divided war. There is now a consultation process on what kind of equipment should be provided to Ukraine. It also sometimes takes some time to confidentially consult with the Allies.
Asked whether he would accept the German deal with Poland’s announced supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Stoltenberg said: “My message is that the Allies must supply more, must supply heavier equipment, equipment and combat systems to Ukraine. And this is absolutely necessary.” He welcomes all announcements made by the Allies about main battle tanks. “So if we really want a solution where Ukraine survives as a sovereign and free country, it is absolutely essential to do so.” Of course, most wars end at the negotiating table. But Ukraine’s position and what they can achieve directly depends on their position on the battlefield, Stoltenberg said.
Baerbock opens tank delivery across Poland
More recently, Kyiv received modernized Soviet-style tanks from the Czech Republic. Britain, Poland and Finland all offered Western tanks to Kyiv, including German-made Leopards. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been postponing a decision on the delivery of the Leopard main battle tanks for weeks.
“The decision-making process is underway and we will have to wait and see now,” German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said Sunday night on the ARD show “Anne Will”. German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock of the Greens was open to the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine by Poland – whose president she immediately announced.
Pistorius said the decision “depends on many factors” and will be “taken in the Chancellery”. Everyone understands the anguish Ukraine is currently in. That is why “there will soon be a decision, whatever it may be.” “It is absolutely clear that tanks are needed, that offensive movements are needed for Donbass and Luhansk,” the minister said.
Poland and Finland want to supply Leopard tanks
For Germany, on the one hand, it is a question of coordination with partner countries. This is “above all” coordination with the US. At the same time, it is a “heavy armored weapon that can also be used for offensive purposes”. That’s why the German federal government must “weigh things very carefully” and cannot “take hasty or frivolous decisions”.
Poland and Finland have already stated that they want to deliver Leopard tanks from their own stockpiles to Ukraine so that Kyiv can better defend itself against Russian attackers. However, as the tanks are German-made, the federal government led by Scholz would have to give its consent.
That is about to change: Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Monday that Poland would ask Berlin for permission to deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine. “We will apply for such permission, but that is a secondary issue,” Morawiecki said in Poznań. Even if Poland doesn’t win Berlin’s approval, they want to act within a small coalition. “If the Germans are not in this coalition, we will still move our tanks into Ukraine along with others,” Morawiecki continued.
Latvian president asks for approval of handover to Germany
Latvian President Egils Levits also urged Germany to agree to the handover. “Everything necessary must be done so that Ukraine can defend itself,” Levits told Deutschlandfunk on Monday. At the same time, handover is also necessary for European security, he stressed. This is an “almost unanimous position in Europe”. Ukraine is “dramatically under pressure,” Levits said. The country could therefore not be deprived of battle tanks.
Heavy fight for Bakhmut and Avdiivka
Russian occupation forces and Ukrainian defenders again engaged in heavy fighting around Bakhmut and Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine on Monday. Russian attacks were repulsed with heavy losses, the Ukrainian general staff said in Kyiv at night. In order to conquer the entire Donetsk region, the Russian army attacked “regardless of its own losses.” The impersonation could not initially be independently verified.
Meanwhile, the Russian military spoke of an intensification of fighting in central Zaporizhia. After advances by Russian units in recent days, a regrouping and repositioning of units on the Ukrainian side has already been observed, state news agency TASS reported.