Refined restraint instead of unbridled joy: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has expressed reservations over reports of the release from Berlin for the delivery of Leopard main battle tanks to his country.
In addition, it was announced through US media that the US now wants to deliver Abram’s main battle tanks to Ukraine. An official confirmation could be given as early as Wednesday.
Ukraine has been asking for months
Ukraine has been pushing for months for the supply of Western-style main battle tanks to fight the Russian attackers.
The first official request came just a week after the outbreak of war in early March last year. The front line in eastern Ukraine has barely moved for weeks. With the main battle tanks, Ukraine hopes to go on the offensive again and reclaim more land. At the same time, there are fears of an offensive by Russia before the spring.
Selenskyj sees a high demand for main battle tanks
“A lot of effort, words, promises,” Zelenskyj said in his daily video address on Tuesday night at the months-long discussion on main battle tank delivery. It is more important to see reality. “It’s not about five or ten or fifteen tanks. The need is greater.” Ukraine is trying every day to compensate for the lack of heavy battle tanks. “And I thank everyone who supports us in this.”
The discussions about the supply of tanks must now lead to decisions, Zelenskyj demanded. “Decisions that really strengthen our defenses against the (Russian) terrorists.” Ukraine’s allies had the required number of tanks. “If we have the necessary weight in decisions, we will be happy to thank you for every important decision,” Zelenskyj emphasized. “We’re still working on that.”
Joy in Zelenskyj’s office about the delivery of main battle tanks
“We will have everything, everything for the reconquest of our territories and for the counter-offensive,” wrote Zelenskyy’s chancery chief Andriy Yermak. “Tank drivers will be happy, as will gunners and later pilots.” Soon “everything will be Ukraine again”.
By referring to pilots, the chancellery chief anticipated a new discussion that Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba had alluded to a few minutes earlier. “Now F-16? Yes, I will take care of that,” he wrote on Facebook in a conversation with an unnamed European colleague. In doing so, he revealed the next step of the Ukrainian leadership, which now also wants to make an effort to deliver fighter jets in the near future. The Ukrainian army has repeatedly stated that it also needs combat aircraftto increase its combat power.
Former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk also welcomed the planned delivery to his country – and immediately made further demands for modern fighter jets. “Hallelujah! Jesus Christ!” he wrote on Twitter, “And now, dear allies, let’s build a strong fighter jet coalition for Ukraine, with F-16s and F-35s, Eurofighters and Tornadoes, Rafale and Gripen jets – and anything you can deliver to Ukraine.” Melnyk is now his country’s deputy foreign minister.
What will be important on Wednesday
The refueling plans of the USA and Germany are expected to become more concrete on Wednesday. It is still unclear which Leopard variant it is and which countries will still deliver. The number of main battle tanks is also still unknown. (yam/sda/dpa)
Soource :Watson
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
