Further reinforcement of Ukraine with heavy weapons decided today, Tuesday, 40 Defense Ministers at a crucial meeting held at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on the initiative of the US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. From the Greek side, the meeting was attended by the Minister of Defense Nikos Panagiotopoulos and the head of GEETHA, General Konstantinos Floros.
“We will move earth and sky for Ukraine”
As the US Secretary of Defense promised “We will move earth and sky to help Ukraine”. “I want to leave today after this meeting with a clear and unequivocal position on understanding the short-term security requirements of Ukraine, because we will move earth and sky to meet them,” he said. “Ukraine needs our help to win today, and it will need our help when the war is over,” he said, adding that he did not rule out Ukraine’s future membership in the Alliance.
“The coming days and weeks are extremely important, the war is in a new phase and Ukraine’s allies must react accordingly, the West is more determined and united than ever,” Austin was quoted as saying by Deutsche Welle journalist Irini Anastassopoulou. in the past”.
The US Secretary of State announced that the conference will be held every month in the form of a contact group, which will examine the defense needs of Ukraine, not only when the war is over, but immediately afterwards to ensure Ukraine’s territorial integrity. He praised Germany, because after a lot of pressure Berlin decided to give heavy weapons and will also train Ukrainian soldiers in other weapons.
Berlin delivers heavy weapons to Ukraine
In particular, the government of Chancellor Soltz intends to facilitate the defense giant Kraus Maffei Wegmann (KMW) in the delivery of equipment and in particular Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, according to information first transmitted by the Süddeutsche Zeitung.
These tanks are located in former German army depots, but are repaired and in good condition, so they can be put into operation for the needs of the Ukrainian army. The Kraus Maffei Wegmann group is even expected to have a double-digit number of tanks, which have not been used for the Bundeswehr air defense for a long time. However, this type of tank is considered fully effective, as it can hit both air and ground targets.
“Nuclear threats” from Russia
It is noted that the decision of the 40 Defense Ministers comes after the threats of Russia in Britain, but also the threats of the Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov for “danger of nuclear war”.
Moscow warned London today that if it continued to encourage Ukraine to invade Russian territory, then there would be an immediate “appropriate response”Reuters reported, citing RIA, which in turn cites the Russian Ministry of Defense.
According to the British Minister of the Armed Forces James Hippie, it is perfectly legal for Ukraine to interfere with Russian supply lines and fuel supplies.
The British minister admitted that the weapons provided by the international community now have a range that can hit targets in Russia.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergei Lavrov argued that the risk of a third world war was “significant”, saying according to his ministry: “I would not want to raise these risks artificially. Many would like it. The danger is serious, real. And we must not underestimate it. “
“NATO, in essence, is involved in a war with Russia through a representative and is equipping that representative. War means war “ he added.
Commenting on Lavrov’s statements, Mr Hippie told the BBC that the Russian Foreign Minister’s claim was “nonsense and Lavrov knows it”, as the weapons were given directly from Western countries and not by NATO itself.
Britain has announced that it will send Stormer rocket launchers to Ukraine.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the Security Council of Russia Nikolai Patrushev argued today that the policy of the West and the Ukrainian government leads to the partition of Ukraine.
According to the government newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Nikolai Patrushev said that “with the policy pursued by the West and the Kiev government, Ukraine will collapse and many states will be created.”
With this statement, Russia brings back to the table the creation of “people’s democracies” such as Donetsk and Luhansk.
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