Allies Meet In Germany Today, Ukraine Looks For A Decision On Delivery Of Western Tanks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky said his government expects "strong decisions" from NATO defense leaders and other countries meeting on Friday to discuss improving Ukraine's ability to confront Russian troops with modern war tanks.

The meeting at the US-owned Ramstein Air Base in Germany is the latest in the series since Russia invaded Ukraine nearly 11 months ago, where future weapons supplies will be discussed, particularly the German Leopard 2 tanks used by soldiers across Europe.

Berlin has veto rights over any decisions to export the tanks, with Chancellor Olaf Scholz's government so far apparently reluctant to allow it for fear of provoking Russia.

Meanwhile, some allies say Berlin's concerns are in place, with Russia fully committed to war, while Moscow has repeatedly said Western arms transfers will prolong the conflict and increase suffering in Ukraine.

"We are actually waiting for a decision from one of the European capitals, which will activate a chain of cooperation related to the prepared tanks," President Zelensky said in a video address late Thursday.

"We are preparing for the Ramstein meeting tomorrow (today). We expect a strong decision. We expect a strong military aid package from the United States," he said.

As previously reported, Ukraine's 50 major support countries known as the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group plan to meet at Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday to agree on a substantial new military aid package to Kyiv.

Diplomats from several NATO countries said the issue of shipping Leopard, including Germany's approval for third-state exports to Ukraine, would be one of the main topics of the meeting.

Ukraine and Russia both rely on Soviet-era T-72 tanks, which have been destroyed in the hundreds during the war that Russian President Vladimir Putin started on February 24, calling them a "special military operation" to protect Russia and Russia. speakers.

In contrast, Ukraine and its allies accuse Moscow of baseless war to seize territory and remove the independence of former Soviet republics and neighbors. Western countries have provided weapons supplies to Ukraine.