ANDRE PAIN / AFP
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and US Chief of Staff Mark Milley after meeting in Ramstein, named after this US base in Germany.
WAR IN UKRAINE – New aid far from Kiev’s expectations. It will be “very difficult” to expel the Russian army from Ukrainian territory by the end of the year, US Chief of Staff Mark Milley said Friday, January 20, during a press conference at the US base in Ramstein, Germany.
“From a military point of view, I still maintain that it will be very difficult to expel Russian forces from all occupied territories of Ukraine[…] That doesn’t mean it can’t happen. But it will be very, very difficult,” the general said after that crucial military support meeting of the allied countries in Kyiv, which, however, did not lead to a decision on sending heavy tanks to Ukraine due to Germany’s hesitation.
But the general adds that it is entirely possible “that the Ukrainians will launch a significant offensive (…) to liberate as much territory as possible”, but “that will depend on the supply of equipment and training”. It must be said that US intelligence expects a counter-offensive by Ukrainian troops in the spring, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin told the press, stressing how important it is for allies to help Kyiv prepare for it.
For the delivery of materials, “we have a window until the spring… As soon as they start their operation, their counter-offensive,” he announced. “It’s not long now and we need to bring the right skills together,” said Loyd Austin.
While waiting for the green light from Berlin, the various additional military aid packages recently pledged by several countries provide Ukraine’s armed forces with “the capacity they need to achieve success on the ground,” the Pentagon chief said.
A constantly pressing demand from Kyiv
For his part, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zekensky on Friday again urged westerners to speed up shipments of heavy weapons, particularly tanks. On the other hand, this meeting, which is important for Kyiv, did not lead to a concrete decision on the delivery of German Leopoard tanks, which Ukraine had been urging.
Ukraine supporters have been warning for months that one of the biggest risks facing the country is that “fatigue” is setting in in western capitals nearly a year after Russia invaded: waning interest or sympathy for the country, or not food and energy price inflation is prompting Western leaders to focus more on their domestic problems.
The question was “discussed” but “not decided,” said Boris Pistorius, the new Federal Defense Minister, despite the great expectations of this meeting. Indeed, the reluctance of some countries to provoke Moscow with supplies of heavy weapons such as tanks explains the time it took some of Kiev’s allies to react to their decision.
“Yes, we will still have to fight for the supply of modern tanks, but every day we make it clearer that there is no other solution than to make a decision about tanks,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening speech via video. “Our partners have a principled attitude, they will support Ukraine as much as necessary for our victory,” he added.
However, this Friday during the Ramstein meeting, the United States, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Denmark announced substantial new arms shipments to Ukraine. Volodymyr Zelensky cited “several hundred combat vehicles added to the Ukrainian arsenal”, “significant results in missiles and anti-aircraft systems”. Finland, meanwhile, announced 400 million euros in military aid to Ukraine, its largest contribution to date, which includes artillery and ammunition.
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