Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated his country’s need for further arms deliveries in addition to the battle tanks that have now been promised: “Russian aggression can only be stopped with adequate weapons,” he said in his video address.
According to its own statements, Ukraine also needs combat aircraft to defend itself against the Russian invasion, which has been going on for eleven months.
“The terror state will not understand it otherwise,” Zelenskyj justified his demand for further arms deliveries. The latest wave of Russian attacks a few hours earlier, which killed at least eleven people, showed this again, according to the Ukrainian President.
Most recently, the federal government decided that Germany would hand over 14 Leopard 2A6 main battle tanks to the Ukrainian armed forces as a first step. Other countries should also receive permission to pass on the tanks made in Germany to the attacked country. In addition, the United States wants to contribute Abrams main battle tanks.
Selenskyj thanked Chancellor Scholz and US President Joe Biden for this – but also insisted on the additional delivery of “long-range missiles”, fighter jets and more artillery. However, Scholz has ruled out the delivery of combat aircraft or even the deployment of ground troops.
The EU country Poland, which borders Ukraine, on the other hand, is fundamentally open to the idea of supplying fighter jets. According to the government in Warsaw, it would support it if NATO were to decide on combat aircraft for Ukraine. “I think we, NATO, have to be braver,” Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki told French broadcaster LCI. But of course it could only be a decision by NATO as a whole, said the head of government. The governments in Washington and Paris are not ruling out deliveries either.
In his most recent speech, Selenskyj thanked Canada in particular, which had announced a few hours earlier that it would also be delivering four Leopard tanks. The tank coalition – as he called it – now consists of twelve countries, as he said. The delivery of the main battle tanks will take place “in the coming weeks”, according to Canada’s Defense Minister Anita Anand. In addition, Canadian soldiers should support their Ukrainian counterparts in commissioning the tanks. Canada is considering sending more tanks at a later date.
Regardless of the criticism at home and abroad, Chancellor Scholz wants to continue his course in arms deliveries to Ukraine. He warns against “entering into a constant outbidding competition when it comes to weapon systems,” he told the “Tagesspiegel”. He is “always about coordination, consideration and coordination,” said Scholz. “I promise you, we always have Germany’s security in mind,” he said. “For me, that is responsible politics in times when such a terrible war is taking place near us.”
