Time.news – The President of the United States, Joe Biden, announced the sending of 31 Abrams tanks and over 500 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, after Berlin’s go-ahead for the sale of German Leopard tanks. Green light that led the tenant of the White House to publicly thank the German chancellor Olaf Scholzsaying he was “grateful” and underlining the “full union” between the US and its allies in supporting Ukraine against Russia.
“We are united”, reiterated Biden, stating that Western support for Kiev “is not to attack” but to defend. “We will not allow – he added – a nation to snatch a territory from another”. The sending of the Abrams, Biden assured, “does not pose a threat to Russia, it is not an offensive against Russia, we are helping Ukraine to defend itself, it must fight equipped with the best possible equipment”.
“Putin was wrong, we won’t stop”
“Putin expected that Europe and the United States would ease decisions. He expected our support for Ukraine to crumble over time. He was wrong”, continued Biden, “these tanks are further proof of our commitment inflexible towards Ukraine. All this is for freedom”. The training of the Ukrainian military to use the Abrams will begin “as soon as possible”, guaranteed the US president.
Biden also sued Italy for “sending artillery” to Ukraine. Among the countries to which his thanks went for the “continued intensification of the effort”, Biden cited, among others, the aid sent or promised by the United Kingdom, France, Norway, Canada, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland and Sweden .
Stoltenberg: “They will make a difference”
“I warmly welcome the decision of the American president, Joe Biden, to supply Abrams tanks to Ukraine,” the NATO secretary general wrote in a tweet. Jens Stoltenberg“NATO allies are united in their support for Ukraine’s self-defence. Together with the UK’s Challengers and Germany’s Leopard 2s, this can make a significant difference in pushing Russia back.”
Meloni: “Allies united at 360 degrees”
Allies united “at 360 degrees” in support of Ukraine. After weeks of controversy and resistance, Western leaders spoke on the phone, confirmed their support for Kiev and reaffirmed their commitment to provide military aid to the Zelensky government. The United States will send 31 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Germany has formalized its willingness to send its Leopard tanks, initially 14, and will give the allies the green light to deliver theirs to the Ukrainian army. The “full support” of the West for Kiev comes at the end of a five-party phone call commissioned by US President Joe Biden, which was attended by the number one in the White House, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
“Taking note of the situation on the ground almost a year after the Russian invasion, the leaders reaffirmed the importance of a constant strong cohesion between allies in continuing to provide assistance to Kiev at 360 degrees”, Meloni herself said at the end of the talks. Biden, in his speech, thanked the partners and also mentioned Italy, for the fact that “it is sending artillery” to Ukraine and for the “continuous intensification of its commitment”.
Zelensky calls for fighters and long-range missiles
Ukraine counts on the supply of long-range missiles and aircraft from the allies, as well as on the expansion of cooperation in artillery. This was stated by Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video message, as reported by Ukrinform. “I spoke today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg“, recalled the leader of Kiev, after the announcement of the allies to send tanks. “We must open up to the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important”, he declared, “we must also expand our cooperation in ‘artillery’ and think about the ‘supply of aircraft for Ukraine’.