Western political leaders visit Ukraine almost every day. From the Ukrainian side, everyone hears that the army in the country has a very great need for more weapons and ammunition in the war against the Russian army of occupation. And what is very high on the wish list right now are western tanks. And above all the German-built Leopard 2, a very modern and powerful tank. But according to Skynews, Britain is also considering sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine. Pressure on Germany Today, Polish President Andrzej Duda visited the Ukrainian city of Lviv. MAKE PROMISES: Polish President Andrzej Duda met his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyj in Lviv. Photo: HANDOUT / AFP There he met his Ukrainian colleague Volodymyr Zelenskyj. Duda said Poland is willing to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine “within the framework of an international coalition.” This means, in plain language, that the German authorities must give the go-ahead before Ukraine can get the Leopard. Yesterday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock made a surprise visit to the city of Kharkiv in the north-eastern part of Ukraine. There she met her Ukrainian colleague Dmytro Kuleba. DISSATISFACTION: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock was criticized by her Ukrainian colleague during a meeting in Kharkiv yesterday. Photo: STR / AFP He criticized Germany because the authorities have so far not agreed to send tanks to Ukraine. – The longer it takes to make the decision, the more people will die, says Kuleba. Can be of great importance Lieutenant-Colonel Palle Ydstebø at the War College tells news that it will be very important for Ukraine to have one or more brigades set up with Western tanks and other modern weapons. CRUCIAL: A Leopard tank during an exercise in Latvia this year. Photo: WOJTEK RADWANSKI / AFP – It could be a turning point in Ukraine’s ability to carry out offensives, says Ydstebø. He points out that in that case the striking power of the Ukrainian army will be much greater. VERY IMPORTANT: Lieutenant Colonel Palle Ydstebø at the Norwegian Military Academy says that Western tanks can be a turning point in the war in Ukraine. Photo: Gunhild Hjermundrud / news It will also be much better than what the Russian army can come up with. The lieutenant colonel points out that the Ukrainian forces have previously pushed the Russian occupation army out of the cities of Kharkiv and Kherson. Their goal is to get the Russians out of all the occupied territories. But Ydstebø emphasizes that much will depend on what countermeasures the Russians put in place. – Think the tanks will come At the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Germany would only give lighter weapons to the Ukrainians. Western leaders initially did not want to send heavy weapons that could provoke Russia. QUESTION OF TIME: Associate Professor Håkon Lunde Saxi at the Staff College believes that Ukraine will get the German tanks it wants. Photo: Forsvarets høgskole But this has gradually changed, says associate professor Håkon Lunde Saxi at the Staff School to news. – There has been very strong pressure on Germany to deliver heavier weapons to Ukraine. Saxi believes that the pressure has worked, because measured in volume, only the United States now supplies the Ukrainians with more weapons than Germany does. The US and Germany announced a few days ago that they will send armored personnel carriers to Ukraine. – I think the German tanks will also come, it’s just a matter of time, says Saxi. He believes that there is no longer any reason to hold back these weapons.
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Leopard tank to Ukraine can change the war – news Urix – Foreign news and documentaries
