Ukraine is preparing for repel a possible major Russian offensive and, at the same time, to recover occupied territories, between the gratitude for the military aid of its western allies and the frustration at German indecision to deliver “Leopard2” tanks“.
The “There will be no tanks” emanating from the meeting on Friday at the US base in Ramstein (Germany) contrasts with other ideas expressed there, while a major Russian offensive is shaping up and an opportunity to reinforce the Ukrainian armyopines Olga Tokariuk, Ukrainian political analyst.
“The decision not to give Ukraine tanks just as the war is entering its crucial phase, after Ukrainian forces managed to inflict several crushing defeats on Russia, it’s incomprehensible“, he wrote on Twitter. It is done “very hard to believe in promises to support Ukraine ‘as long as it takes'”, he adds, alluding to this explicit commitment from the Western allies.
Pressure in Bajmut and German indecision
As both sides mobilize for large-scale offensives, the front line has been relatively stable in recent weeksdespite some Ukrainian advances near Kreminna, in the province of Lugansk, and Russian movements in Soledar, near Bakhmut.
Yevgen, a Ukrainian National Guard officer, says that Russian pressure near Bakhmut has been relentless and that your unit urgently needs heavy weapons and other military equipment.
“Our motivation is very high, but we need tanks, we need more artillery, more rocket launcherto prevent the enemy from getting so close to us and to save the lives of our exhausted soldiers,” he explained to Efe during one of the rare pauses between the fighting.
Disappointment over the indecision about the tanks mainly affects Germany, whose authorization is needed so that other countries that possess Leopard 2 tanks can deliver them to the Ukrainian army.
Ukrainian-German expert Andreas Umland points out that “although Germany has recently provided significant assistance to Ukraine, it also has a important historical responsibility for kyiv“. Argues that Ukraine was devastated by German troops in 1941-1944 during World War II.
And that Berlin too indirectly helped Moscowby maintaining his relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia annexed Crimea and instigated the war in Donbas in 2014.
The official Ukrainian position is softer. His Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov revealed in an interview with “Voice of America” that an agreement had been reached with unspecified countries so that Ukrainian soldiers start your training with Leopard 2 tanks.
The minister stated that remains optimistic and hopes that Germany make a decision about the transfer of the tanks “calmly, after conducting its own internal consultations.”
Importance of the Leopard 2
Volodimir Dubovyk, professor of International Relations at the Odessa National Mechnikov University, stresses that tanks are just some of the weapons Ukraine needs and that the trend of increasing military aid is positive.
“Other types of heavy weaponry, which are now being supplied, are a very effective contribution to Ukraine’s military capability“, explains EFE.
In the last days several large military aid packages have been announced. Among them, one of 2,500 million dollars from the US and another of 1,000 million from Germany. Canada will contribute 200 armored vehiclesconsidered crucial on the battlefield.
Nine European countries (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Denmark and the Netherlands), jointly pledged to provide tanks and other heavy weapons, with the aim of Ukraine achieving its victory in the field of battle in 2023.
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Dubovyk believes that the debate on the “Leopard 2” will continue and remember that earlier discussions of other weapons followed the same trajectory. “First they say it’s not possible to provide a specific weapon, but then the ‘red lines’ move,” he explained.
The country’s president, Volodimir Zelensky, stressed in his late-night speech on Friday that it was important that the promised weapons reach Ukraine as soon as possible and that next week new announcements will be made about strengthening the country’s defense.