After weeks of controversy and resistance, Western leaders speak on the phone, confirm their support for Kiev and reaffirm their commitment to provide military aid to the Zelensky government.
The United States will send to Ukraine 31 Abrams tanks, Germany has formalized its willingness to send its Leopard tanks, initially 14, and will give the allies the green light to deliver theirs to the Ukrainian army (for a total of 80 units). The "full support" of the West for Kiev comes at the end of a five-party phone call commissioned by US President Joe Biden, which was attended by the number one in the White House, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
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"Noting the situation on the ground nearly a year after the Russian invasion, leaders reaffirmed the importance of continued strong Allied unity as they continue to provide all-round assistance to Kyiv.” Meloni herself made it known at the end of the talks. Biden, in his speech, thanked the partners and also mentioned Italy, for the fact that "it is sending artillery" to Ukraine and for the "continuous intensification of its commitment".
The president of the United States, Joe Biden, announced the sending of 31 Abrams tanks and over 500 armored personnel carriers to Ukraine, after Berlin's go-ahead for the sale of German Leopard 2 tanks. Biden publicly thanked the German chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying he was "grateful" and underlining the "full union" between the US and allies in supporting Ukraine against Russia.
"We are united“, Biden reiterated, stating that Western support for Kiev “it is not to attack” but to defend. “We will not allow - he added - for one nation to snatch territory from another“. The sending of the Abrams, Biden points out, “it does not pose a threat to Russia, it is not an offensive against Russia, we help Ukraine to defend itself, it must fight better equipped”.
"Putin expected Europe and the United States to ease decisions. He expected our support for Ukraine to crumble over time. He was wrong“, continued Biden, “these tanks are further proof of our unyielding commitment to Ukraine. All of this is for freedom”. The training of the Ukrainian military to use the Abrams will begin "as soon as possible", guaranteed the US president.
Biden also cited theItaly for the fact that “he is sending artillery" in Ukraine. Among the countries to which his thanks went for the "continued intensification of the effort", Biden cited the aid sent or promised by UK, France, Norway, Canada, Slovakia, Denmark, Poland and Sweden.
Satisfaction of the head of NATO
"I warmly welcome the decision of the American president, Joe Biden, to supply Abrams tanks to Ukraine”, writes the NATO secretary general in a tweet, Jens Stoltenberg, "NATO allies are united in supporting Ukraine's self-defense. Coupled with the UK's Challengers and Germany's Leopard 2s, this can make a significant difference in Russia's pushback".
Zelensky: "we need fighter aircraft and long-range missiles"
Ukraine counts on the supply of long-range missiles and aircraft from the allies, as well as on the expansion of cooperation in artillery. This was stated by Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening video message, as reported by Ukrinform. “I spoke today with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg“, recalled the leader of Kiev, after the announcement of the allies to send tanks. “We must open up to the supply of long-range missiles to Ukraine, it is important,” he declared, “we must also expand our cooperation in artillery” and think about the “supply of aircraft for Ukraine”.