At the start of the Ramstein conference, the US defense secretary asks the allies to provide all possible help to Ukraine
The US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin called on allies today to step up their support for Ukraine at the start of a meeting of dozens of defense ministers at an air base in Germany, as pressure mounts on Berlin to hand over tanks to Kyiv.
NATO and defense ministers from about 50 countries are meeting at Ramstein Air Base, the latest in a series of conferences since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 11 months ago.
“Russia is regrouping, recruiting and trying to rearm,” Austin said at the start of the conference.
“This is not the time to slow down. This is the time to try with all our might. The Ukrainian people are watching us,” he said, without making specific reference to the tanks.
The United States announced an additional $2.5 billion in military aid yesterday, Thursday, which will include more tanks and ammunition.
Finland has announced a new donation of about 400 million euros ($435 million) worth of defense equipment to Ukraine, which does not include German-made Leopard 2 tanks that it has said it could also send if a deal is struck with allies.
Berlin has the ability to veto any decision to export Leopard tanks, which are at the disposal of the militaries of NATO member states across Europe and are seen by defense experts as the most appropriate for Ukraine.
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