Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) gave an update on battle tanks on the sidelines of the Ukraine conference on Friday.PICTURED: WOLFGANG RATTAY / REUTERS
International
01/20/2023, 08:4201/20/2023, 2:48 p.m
Almost eleven months after the beginning of the Russian war of aggression in the Ukraine fighting continues across the country. There is great hope in Kyiv for further international support.
In view of the heavy Russian attacks, people in Kyiv are both tense and hopeful about the military conference in Ramstein on Friday. There it will be decided whether there will be German tanks in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the United States announced a new military aid package worth up to $2.5 billion.
January 20th
2:10 p.m .: Pistorius: Germany is checking the availability of Leopard tanks
Germany is preparing to deliver Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, but has still not made a decision on this. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) said on Friday on the sidelines of the Ukraine conference at the US air base in Ramstein that he had given the order to check the availability and number of these tanks. “We are preparing for the worst-case scenario.” The decision on a delivery will be made “as soon as possible”.
To further support Ukraine wants Germany definitely more weapons and supply equipment worth one billion euros. With this “spring package” the total amount of German military aid since the beginning of the war has increased to 3.3 billion euros, said Pistorius.
12:31 p.m .: First UN aid convoy reaches the area of the embattled Ukrainian city of Soledar
The first aid convoy from the United Nations arrived in the area of the embattled city of Soledar in eastern Ukraine on Friday. “Our colleagues in Ukraine have just reached the government-controlled areas near the eastern administrative region of Donetsk,” Jens Laerke, spokesman for the UN agency Ocha, told journalists in Geneva. It is the first joint convoy of several aid organizations since the beginning of the war.
11:34 a.m .: Selenskyj calls for more speed in weapons deliveries
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the West to speed up arms deliveries Russia attacked country prompted. The time is critical, he said in a video link at the meeting of defense ministers and military officials from numerous countries at the US air base in Ramstein Rhineland-Palatinate. Russia is gathering its strength, its last strength. “We have to get faster.” The Russian terror do not allow long discussions. “The Kremlin must lose.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on the West to speed up arms deliveries to his country attacked by Russia.Image: dpa / Hannes P Albert
Zelenskyy thanked the assembled representatives of Western countries for their support to date. “We see the results on the battlefield in Ukraine.” But the defenders of freedom were slowly running out of weapons. In Ramstein, concrete decisions would have to be made about the delivery of aircraft, missiles and long-range artillery, for example, in order to be able to end Russian terror.
10:26 a.m.: Schulze in Odessa: reconstruction in the middle of the war
Development Minister Svenja Schulze has pledged an additional 52 million euros for Ukraine’s reconstruction in the face of ongoing Russian attacks on infrastructure. “In the middle of the war we are in the process of rebuilding Ukraine into a free, independent Ukraine,” said the SPD politician on Thursday during a visit to the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, which was kept secret for security reasons.
The additional millions in aid for the Ukrainian municipalities are to flow into warming rooms, generators, medical care and administration. In 2022, the Development Ministry (BMZ) supported Ukraine with around 600 million euros.
8.01 a.m .: Hope for tanks: Kyiv looks at the military conference in Ramstein
A meeting of the Western Allies in Ramstein in Rhineland-Palatinate is being eagerly awaited this Friday internationally – but above all in the Ukraine. The focus is on the question of whether Germany agrees to the delivery of battle tanks there. The meeting of defense ministers and senior military officials from numerous countries at Ramstein Air Force Base is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m.
Selenskyj hopes for support from Germany. Specifically, it is about the delivery of battle tanks.Image: AP / Efrem Lukatsky
The new Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, meanwhile, remained on the rather cautious line before the meeting. From the USA it was said that the delivery of American Abrams main battle tanks is currently not sensible – but Germany is making a “sovereign decision”.
The new Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has so far shown a cautious line.Image: dpa / Wolfgang Kumm
5.12 a.m .: Selenskyj: “Can you deliver leopards? Then hand them over!”
In an ARD interview broadcast on Thursday evening, Selenskyj sharply criticized Germany’s hesitant attitude when it came to possible deliveries of main battle tanks. “You’re grown people. You can talk like that for six months, but die with us People – every day.” Then he added: “In plain language: can you deliver leopards or not? Then give it here!”
“It’s not like we attack if someone is worried,” said Zelenskyj. “These leopards will not drive through Russia. We will defend ourselves.” At the same time, with regard to the military aid already provided, he emphasized: “We are grateful. I want everyone to hear that: We are grateful to Germany.”
Older news for war in Ukraine you can find here.
(ast/with material from dpa/AFP)
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