Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded cautiously to reports that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz had agreed to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks. Zelensky added in his daily video address late yesterday evening (Tuesday, January 24, 2023) that there are “a lot of Effort, words and promises. “But it is important to see the reality. It is not about five, ten or fifteen tanks. The need is greater. Every day we do everything necessary to fill the deficit. I am grateful to everyone who supports us in this matter,” he added. Zelensky has been urging Berlin for months to provide Kiev with heavier weapons to fend off Russian forces. After weeks of mounting pressure on Berlin, Taqari reported that the government had decided to supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks
In the same context, two US officials said yesterday that the United States appears to be preparing to start a process that will lead to sending dozens of M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. And this decision, if taken, will come only days after Washington expressed opposition to sending these tanks, despite Kyiv’s demands and public pressure from Berlin, which is facing calls to send German-made Leopard tanks. The two officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said an announcement could be made this week. They added that the Abrams tanks were likely to be purchased through a fund known as the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which allows the administration of US President Joe Biden to obtain weapons from the defense industry rather than from existing US weapons stocks. One of the officials explained that the Biden administration could use the initiative to buy Abrams tanks from allies who owned them, and then refurbish them and send them to Ukraine.
In response to the reports, Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to Washington, said the move would constitute “another flagrant provocation.” “If the United States decides to provide Ukraine with tanks, you cannot justify it under the pretext of defensive weapons (…) It is clear that the government in Washington is working towards a strategic defeat of Russia,” Antonov said in a message on Telegram.
In a related context, a committee in the Swiss parliament voted in favor of a proposal that allows for a request to amend the country’s laws in order to allow the export of Swiss weapons to Ukraine through other countries. Switzerland has so far refused to allow countries that possess Swiss-made weapons to re-export them to Ukraine, in line with its military neutrality. Under the Swiss War Materials Act, a request for re-export cannot be approved if the final destination is a country in an international military conflict.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned in his evening speech Tuesday that Russia is preparing for a “new wave of aggression” and is increasing military activity near Pakhmut and Volydar in Donetsk Oblast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has also signed a law toughening criminal liability for military personnel in the event of desertion or failure to comply with orders to fight, according to the Kyiv Independent newspaper.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
The United States is the biggest supporter
The United States provided weapons and equipment to Ukraine in 2022 at a value of 22.9 billion euros, ranking first among the supporting countries. Among the most important heavy weapons provided to Ukraine are HIMARS missile launchers, air defense systems, cannons, helicopters, drones, Bradley armored personnel carriers and others.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
Britain
Britain ranked second among the countries supporting Ukraine, as it provided it with military aid worth 4.1 billion euros during the year 2022. Among the weapons provided were M270 rocket launchers, anti-tank weapons, hundreds of short-range missiles, air defense systems and armored personnel carriers.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
Germany
Germany provided Ukraine with military aid worth 2.3 billion euros last year, ranking third among Ukraine’s supporters. Among the heavy weapons provided by Germany are missile launchers and air defense systems, the most important of which are the Iris-T, Haupts 2000 mobile armored cannons, and Gibbard self-propelled anti-aircraft guns.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
Patriot missiles and German armor
Germany also provided Ukraine with the Patriot air defense missile system and Marder armored personnel carriers. In addition, Berlin provided military trucks, minesweepers, shells, bullets of various types and calibers, and other materiel and equipment to the Ukrainian army.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
Poland
Poland provided its neighbor Ukraine with military support during the year 2022 at a value of 1.8 billion euros, and thus it was the fourth supporter of Ukraine at the global level. The Soviet-made T72 tanks and BMP armored personnel carriers were among the most remarkable weapons and equipment that Warsaw provided to Kiev.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
Canada
The volume of Canadian military aid to Ukraine reached 1.4 billion euros in 2022, ranking fifth among Kyiv’s supporters. The M-777 field guns are among the most prominent of what Canada provided, in addition to rocket launchers, hand grenades, and ammunition.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
Norway
Ukraine received $600 million in military aid from Norway in 2022, and it is the sixth largest supporter of Ukraine. M109 mobile Haupts, shells and spare parts. In addition to Mistral anti-aircraft surface-to-air missiles and anti-tank missiles.
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In pictures, the largest supporter of Ukraine and the most important weapons!
France
France ranked seventh among the largest countries supporting Ukraine, as the value of its military aid amounted to 500 million euros over the past year. Among the most prominent weapons it provided were Caesar guns, Milan anti-tank missiles, and Mistral surface-to-air missiles. Prepared by: Arif Jabu
This comes amid measures taken by the Ukrainian President during the past 24 hours in light of the ongoing fighting in his country. Zelensky sacked at least 10 officials in a cabinet reshuffle, after protesting abuses by civil servants amid the country’s efforts to counter the Russian invasion.
On the ground, the Russian Ministry of Defense said today, Wednesday, that the Admiral Gorshkov frigate had tested its offensive capabilities in the Atlantic Ocean. It added in a statement that the frigate conducted a test on supersonic Zircon missiles, which have a range of 900 km, using computer simulations. The statement did not say whether the frigate fired missiles.
HZ/AFP (Reuters/DBA/AFP)
