“Achieve parity with the Russian armed forces through tanks”

Kyiv In the future, Ukraine should be able to use several battalions of heavy battle tanks from Western armories against the Russian invaders. In addition to the already promised Leopard 2 tanks from a number of western countries, as well as the M1 Abrams from the USA and Challenger 2 from Great Britain, several European countries want to supply more than 100 older Leopard 1 main battle tanks to Ukraine.

“I thank Germany and all our partners for their support,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in his daily video address on Tuesday evening. The delivery will not outperform the Russian invaders on the battlefield, but will at least achieve par with their armed forces.

Before that, Selensky had met Federal Defense Minister Boris Pistorius in Kyiv and talked to him about the current situation in Ukraine. “We are doing everything we can to keep the airspace clear, to ensure that our soldiers have strong tanks and that our artillery is as good as that of the occupiers,” the president said.

The leadership in Kyiv is currently following “what the occupiers are preparing” with the greatest attention. The situation around Donetsk in eastern Ukraine is currently “the hottest”.

Ukraine is to receive more than 100 older Leopard 1A5 main battle tanks from a group of European countries, as German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) announced on his first visit to Kyiv. By the first or second quarter of 2024, at least three battalions of Ukrainians should be equipped with such tanks.

In addition to President Zelensky, Pistorius also met Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. Russia’s war of aggression against the neighboring country has now lasted almost a year.

By the end of the year 80 Leopard 1 tanks for Ukraine

Pistorius said the Leopard 1 delivery will be in stages. 20 to 25 tanks should be delivered by the summer, and up to 80 by the end of the year. The aim is to get over 100 in the course of the first or second quarter of 2024.

This means that at least three Ukrainian battalions could be equipped, including the material to be procured for spare parts and ammunition. In addition, the training of 600 sergeants has begun.

In a joint statement with the defense ministries of the Netherlands and Denmark, it was said that the two countries are also involved in the Leopard 1 delivery. “Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands are providing refurbished Leopard 1A5s from industrial stocks,” it said. The initiative is open to other countries. Belgium has signaled an interest in participating.

The Leopard 1 is the first main battle tank built for the German Army after World War II. 4700 examples were produced from 1965 to the mid-1980s. The Bundeswehr retired its last Leopard 1 20 years ago.

After a lengthy debate two weeks ago, the federal government decided to give Ukraine more modern Leopard 2 main battle tanks and to allow allies to supply this tank model developed in Germany. Marder armored personnel carriers and the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system are also to go to Ukraine.

Pistorius: Respect for Ukrainians’ will to defend themselves

The will of the Ukrainian people to defend their homeland is unbroken, Pistorius said in Kyiv. “For that, I have my greatest admiration for you.” Five Biber tank bridge-laying vehicles would be delivered in March.

Resnikov was pleased with the announced deliveries. “There is no doubt – Germany stands with Ukraine,” he wrote on Facebook. This is an important contribution. “The support is enormous, it can only get better.”

White House appreciates German commitment to Ukraine

According to the US government, Germany is a “powerful ally” and “a reliable friend and partner” in supporting Ukraine. Berlin’s commitment “is greatly appreciated and should also be noted,” the communications director of the US government’s National Security Council, John Kirby, told DW in Washington.

This is how the Handelsblatt reports on the Ukraine war:

Hofreiter: Scholz must win back the trust of the EU partners

Shortly before the EU summit in the second half of the week, the chairman of the European Committee in the Bundestag, Anton Hofreiter (Greens), sees the hesitant promises of battle tanks from some European partners as Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s duty. “It is now a matter of regaining trust and convincing the European partners,” Hofreiter told the news portal “t-online”.

“It is good that the chancellor is finally taking on a coordinating role. We have no time to lose because a Russian spring offensive is imminent.”

That’s going to be important today

Scholz will make a government statement on the upcoming EU summit in the Bundestag on Wednesday. On Thursday and Friday in Brussels, the heads of state and government of the 27 member states of the European Union will deal, among other things, with Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine.

A reaction from Moscow to the announced delivery of tanks to Kyiv is also expected on Wednesday.

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