Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi has called for long-range missiles from Western partners so that they can also strike targets in Russia, saying Western allies should ignore Russian head of state Vladimir Putin’s “red lines.”
Zelensky made this demand on Friday during a meeting of the so-called contact group at the American base in Ramstein in Germany. US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin did not share the concern. According to insiders, a corresponding delivery must be made concrete.
There is no single weapon that can turn the war in Ukraine in Kiev’s favor, Austin explained. Asked by reporters, he dismissed the idea that allowing low-level strikes with Western weapons into Russia could be a game changer.
Ultimately, the war will end at the negotiating table. When this will happen remains to be seen. Early on, the US Secretary of Defense announced that US President Joe Biden would approve additional aid to Ukraine totaling $250 million.
Ukraine needs more fighter jets
“It will strengthen the capabilities to meet Ukraine’s changing needs,” Austin said. The money should be made available quickly, it was said. Austin invited the members of the contact group to the conference at the largest U.S. air base outside the United States. This includes about 50 countries.
The Ukrainian armed forces also need more F-16 fighter jets and more air defense capabilities to compete with the Russian military, Zelensky said. “We need these long-range capabilities not only on (…) Ukrainian territory, but also on Russian territory,” Zelensky said.
Kiev wants peace through strength
This will put pressure on Russia to start peace talks. Such attacks on military airports could also prevent Russian airstrikes in Ukraine, for example. It is unusual for Zelensky to attend the meeting of the Contact Group of Supporting States for the Defense of Ukraine, which takes place at the level of defense ministers.
However, the situation has deteriorated dramatically in recent weeks. Kiev’s armed forces are increasingly in trouble, especially in eastern Ukraine. In addition, Russia is covering the whole of Ukraine with airstrikes.
Self-propelled howitzers from Germany
Meanwhile, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced new arms deliveries to Ukraine. “We will deliver twelve modern self-propelled howitzers of the Type 2000 to Ukraine,” he said. Six of these howitzers were to be delivered to Ukraine this year. However, Germany continued to reject the Ukrainian president’s demand to allow the use of Western weapons against targets deep inside Russia.
Source: Krone
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