Ukraine was counting on this meeting. On Friday, Kyiv’s allies met in Ramstein in Germany to develop a common strategy to fight Russia. Even if additional aid has been announced from the United States, Sweden or the United Kingdom, Ukraine expected more. Especially in the delivery of heavy tanks, Lzopard 2. But now, the allies have not agreed. Consequence: they are not against it but at the moment the delivery of Leopard 2 is not planned. This Saturday, Kyiv did not hesitate to punish this decision.
“These days’ indecision is killing our fellow citizens even more”, criticized on Twitter Mykhaïlo Podoliak, advisor to the Ukrainian presidency. For him, Kyiv’s allies must “think faster”. “You will help Ukraine with the necessary weapons anyway and realize that there is no other option to end the war”he pleaded, echoing similar remarks the day before by President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Germany was to blame
At the end of this meeting, the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, wanted to restore certain truths. “We don’t hesitate, we just weigh the pros and cons […] We have a responsibility to think carefully about the consequences for all parties to the conflict.”, he justified. The minister said that the“impression” that only Germany opposes the delivery of tanks to Kyiv is “false”.
In a rare public criticism, the three Baltic foreign ministers for their part urged Berlin on Saturday morning “to supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine now “. They complain “special responsibility” from Germany
Direct criticism of Berlin also came from a Republican US senator, Lindsey Graham, after a visit to Kyiv on Friday. “I’m tired of the ‘shit show’ about who will send tanks and when”he criticized on Twitter. “To the Germans: send tanks to Ukraine because they need them. (…) To the Biden administration: send American tanks so that others will follow our example”.
Quoted by voice of america Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, however, indicated that Ukrainian soldiers would soon train on leopards in Poland: “Let’s start with that, and we’ll see for the rest”he declared
Source : Le JDD
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