“Well-resourced, well-equipped Ukrainian armed forces are the best insurance for Ukraine, but also for us in Europe.”
(Photo: Reuters)
Berlin Germany and the Netherlands want to train Ukrainian soldiers for mine detection and clearing and also provide material for this. This was announced by Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) and her Dutch counterpart Kajsa Ollongren at the US air base in Ramstein. Around 50 states supporting Ukraine met there for the fifth time on Thursday. The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov also took part in the meeting.
Around 20 Ukrainian soldiers are to be trained at the explosive ordnance defense school in Stetten am Kalten Markt, who in turn are supposed to pass on their knowledge to others. Germany and the Netherlands had already worked together to deliver Panzerhaubitzen 2000 to Ukraine and jointly deployed Patriot air defense systems to Slovakia.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said at the meeting that the Ukraine war had “reached a pivotal moment”. Therefore, the contact group of the supporting countries must also reposition itself. The United States promised further arms deliveries worth $675 million. Included are other howitzers, artillery ammunition and anti-tank weapons. Norway pledged Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.
Although Western-style main battle tanks have long been on the Ukrainians’ wish list for a long time, Lambrecht continued to be cautious on this issue. Ukraine must continue to be supported as soon as possible, and the best way to do that is to deliver Soviet-made weapons with which the soldiers are familiar. For example, several weeks of training were required for the Panzerhaubitze 2000.
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However, Germany will promptly deliver the second tranche of the Gepard anti-aircraft tanks and the Biber bridge-laying tanks. In addition, a “winter package” is being prepared, which includes, for example, power generation units, tents and winter equipment. “Well-resourced, well-equipped Ukrainian armed forces are the best insurance for Ukraine, but also for us in Europe,” Lambrecht said.
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