President Of The European Commission: Ukraine Must Get All Military Equipment Needed

(left) Charles Michel, Jens Stoltenberg, and Ursula von der Leyen. (Twitter/@jensstoltenberg)

JAKARTA - European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Tuesday Ukraine should get all the necessary military equipment.

His comments came as the European Union and NATO reaffirmed their cooperation, with Western countries considering sending heavy tanks to help the country fight Russia's invasion.

"Ukraine must get all the necessary military equipment they can handle to defend their homeland," von der Leyen said, quoted by The National News Jan. 11.

He is with EU Council President Charles Michel and NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg at the alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium after they signed a joint declaration.

Von der Leyen said Kyiv should accept advanced air defense systems "but also other types of advanced military equipment, as long as necessary to defend Ukraine."

Stoltenberg welcomed a recent announcement by the US, Germany and France that it would provide a new type of "Armed vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, and other types of armored vehicles to Ukraine".

"This is important," he said.

Ukraine has for months asked western countries to increase military support by sending tanks.

However, countries like Germany say they are concerned that it will anger Russia even more and increase the war.

Later, several recent announcements hinted the West may have changed their minds, with France saying last week that it would send light tanks, or AMX-10 RC armored combat vehicles.

Shortly thereafter, Germany announced it would send Marder's infantry fighting vehicles and the US said it would send its Bradley model.

However, with fears of a new Russian attack, pressure has risen on countries to send stronger tanks.

There have been reports that Britain is considering sending the main fighter tank Challenger 2, increasing pressure on Berlin to send the Leopard 2 tank.

Further announcements could be made next week when US-led defense contact groups to support Ukraine, which includes NATO allies, will meet.

Stoltenberg said security officials would discuss what kind of weapons it needed with the Ukrainian Defense Minister.

"We must not underestimate Russia," Stoltenberg said.

"They mobilize more troops, work hard to get more equipment and ammunition, showing a willingness to suffer to continue the war," Stoltenberg said.

The joint EU-NATO declaration signed on Tuesday is the third since 2016.

It said Russia's invasion of Ukraine was "the biggest threat to Euro-Atlantic security in decades" and reaffirmed NATO's role as the basis for its allied collective defense.

It also acknowledges the value of Europe's defense which is "stronger and more capable".

Michel said there was "no doubt" that European sovereignty in defense issues was "more necessary than ever".