Time.news – Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced that Ukrainian troops will begin training to use Leopard 2 tanks; and this despite the fact that yesterday in Ramstein, in the American base in Germany, the League of Allied Countries did not decide anything on the advisability of supplying German-made tanks to Kiev.
Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov is “very satisfied” with the results of Ramstein-8. And those packages of weapons, which were announced by a number of countries, and the aid, which is not talked about publicly, is inspiring, he said. As for the transfer of tanks to Ukraine – there is a breakthrough here – the minister assures. pic.twitter.com/HDt7LklCyC
— Voice of America in Ukrainian (@holosameryky) January 21, 2023
Reznikov told the Ukrainian-language US broadcaster “Voice of America” that Ukrainian troops would train on tanks in Poland and described the development as a breakthrough. “I hope -he added- that Germany, calmly, after having conducted its own internal consultations, will reach a decision on the possible transfer of tanks. I am optimistic about this”.
Moscow’s reply to Ramstein
Russia called today’s meeting of Ukraine’s allies in Ramstein a “provocation” and a “dangerous escalation” and claimed progress by the Russian military in eastern and southeastern Ukraine.
“We believe this is an open provocation by the West that raises the stakes of the conflict. This will inevitably lead to an increase in casualties and a dangerous escalation“Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
As for Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, he had warned that new arms supplies to Kiev from its allies “will change nothing in terms of Russia’s progress towards its goals” and urged “not to exaggerate the importance of the new military aid in terms of ability to make a difference” on the battlefield: on the contrary, he said, the program “will give Ukraine more problems” due to the “maintenance and repair” that the weapons require.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin convened the Russian Security Council to discuss the military campaign situation, just as the Contact Group countries began discussing military aid to Kiev. “During the meeting there was an exchange of views on the special military operatione”, communicated the Kremlin, using the expression with which it defines the military intervention in Ukraine.
Stoltenberg: “Italy is contributing in many ways”
There is “extreme urgency” to provide new military aid to Ukraine, in the face of a strengthening of Russia which “is producing more weapons and mobilizing more men” to give new impetus to its offensive. This was stated by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, on the sidelines of the Ramstein summit, in an interview with Tg1. This is why Stoltenberg “welcomed” the announcement that the allies were sending heavy weapons, tanks and armored vehicles “which significantly increase Ukraine’s war capacity”.
The NATO secretary general urges “all allies to do more”: “What Ukraine can achieve from future negotiations depends on its strength on the ground. We must provide it with military support now because this is the only way to convince Putin who won’t have the upper hand on the battlefield, and to engage in sincere negotiation”.