Zelensky deplores Germany’s refusal and affirms that there is no alternative for the Allies to hand over these tanks
Ukraine on Saturday criticized the West’s “global indecisiveness” to supply the Leopard battle tanks it needs to face a new Russian offensive it is said is being widely prepared. “The indecisiveness of these days kills our fellow citizens even more. Every day of delay means the death of Ukrainians. Think faster,” Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podoliak urged in a post on the social network Twitter.
As early as Friday evening, Ukrainian President Volodímir Zelensky lamented Germany’s refusal and stated his conviction that “there is no other alternative” for its Western allies to ultimately supply the above-mentioned tanks.
Zelensky was referring to the meeting of representatives of some 50 countries at the American Ramstein base in Germany, where no agreement was reached on sending the tanks. The German country is reluctant to supply the leopards – or allow countries that have them too to send them to Ukraine – although some information suggests that Berlin would accept if the US also sends units of its Abrams armored vehicles to Ukraine would deliver. Washington, for its part, claims it cannot send its tanks because of the difficulties in training them and the high cost of maintenance.
In this context, in an unusual public criticism this Saturday, the foreign ministers of the Baltic countries urged Germany to “supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine already”, citing the country’s “special responsibility” as the “first European power”. .
Meanwhile, in Kiev, Zelensky and his wife Olena Zelenska attended the funeral of Interior Minister Denis Monastirski, who died on Wednesday along with 13 other people when the helicopter he was traveling in crashed on Saturday along with several senior Ukrainian leaders.
The ceremony took place in a building near Maidan Square, in the center of the Ukrainian capital. A procession of soldiers brought seven coffins to the scene and on each coffin was placed the flag of the country and a portrait of the victims in black and white. “Glory to Our Heroes!” cried those present in unison after the farewell speech.
On the military front, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported on Saturday that its forces had launched an offensive in the Zaporizhia region of southeastern Ukraine, where fighting has intensified in recent days with the accumulation of troops by part of both sides, after several months with no major movements on that front.
In their daily report, the Russian forces indicated that they were launching “offensive operations” in the region and that they were “taking up more advantageous lines and positions”. His military spokesman, General Igor Konashenkov, claimed that at least 30 Ukrainian fighters were killed during the Russian advance.
On the other hand, Russia also announced on Saturday that it had conducted air defense exercises in the capital Moscow region, with the anti-aircraft missile brigade to protect its critical infrastructure in case of “air strikes”.
Source: La Verdad
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