The United States said it will soon begin training the Ukrainian military to use Abrams tanks, and Germany announced an agreement to create a center in Poland to repair tanks deployed in Ukraine, and the United States held a meeting of allies on Friday in Germany, Reuters writes.

The meeting at Ramstein Air Base, the latest in a series of meetings to decide what weapons to send to Ukraine after Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion last year, made no major announcements on combat technology, focusing instead on air defense. and ammunition.

He also assured Kyiv of unwavering support and supported Ukraine’s bid to join NATO at some point in the future, but officials emphasized that the immediate goal is to help Ukraine on the battlefield.

Ukraine is demanding long-range weapons, aircraft and ammunition from its allies ahead of a counteroffensive to push back Russian forces, expected in the coming weeks or months.

Abrams will change things, says Mark Milley

“The M1 tank, when it is delivered, will make a difference,” said General Mark Milley, the US Army chief of staff, who called the Abrams the best tank in the world after the talks.

Abrams battle tanks will arrive in Germany in the coming weeks for the start of training of the Ukrainian military, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters.

The US representative, who wished to remain anonymous, added that the training will last about 10 weeks, and hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers will take part in it.

In January, the US promised to deliver 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks to Ukraine after months of shying away from the idea over concerns about their maintenance and complexity.

NATO member countries and their allies have been supplying Ukraine with weapons and armored vehicles, but Ukraine’s leadership has repeatedly called for more powerful weapons and faster deliveries.

German Leopard 2 tank Photo: Cristoph Schmidt / AFP / Profimedia Images

“Putin cannot play with time, we will endure”

Answering a question about Kyiv’s requests for modern fighter jets, Milli noted that Ukraine primarily needs ground-based air defense.

“The Russians are afraid to enter Ukraine because of the effective use of the Ukrainian air defense system. Now that’s the most important thing,” Milley said.

Also at the meeting on Friday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced an agreement to create a repair center for German-made Leopard tanks stationed in Ukraine in Poland.

All parties have agreed on how to finance such a hub, which costs about 150 million to 200 million euros ($384 million) a year and could start operating at the end of May, Pistorius told reporters.

He also announced that Ukrainian troops would begin training in the use of Leopard tanks, and said that Berlin’s commitment to supply Ukraine with about 80 such tanks by the middle of the year was progressing rapidly.

“What does all this show? This shows our determination to persevere. Putin cannot play with time, we will be patient,” he said.

When asked about Ukraine’s prospects for joining NATO, Pistorius said that all members agree that they see Ukraine as a future member, but now is not the time.

Disagreements among Europeans regarding ammunition supplied to Ukraine

The European Union “respects its commitments” to supply ammunition to Ukraine, the head of European diplomacy said on Friday, trying to allay concerns in Kyiv about differences between France and its partners over joint procurement, AFP reported.

“I spoke with (Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine) Dmytro Kuleba to confirm that the EU is fulfilling its obligations regarding the supply of ammunition to Ukraine,” wrote Josep Borrell on Twitter.

Artillery shells Photo: DreamsTime / Swathi Mohan

In March, the EU agreed to allocate one billion euros for the supply of ammunition from existing state stocks and another billion for joint procurement contracts concluded by September 30 to European defense companies.

This second component is the subject of sharp disagreement in the ongoing negotiations in Brussels.

“The failure of the EU to implement its own decision on joint procurement of ammunition for Ukraine is disappointing,” Kuleba tweeted on Thursday, noting that “for Ukraine, the price of inaction is measured in human lives.”

The agreement, reached in March, envisages that the joint purchases will be made from the “European defense industry”.

France has a very strict interpretation of this provision, several European diplomats said. Paris refuses to allow non-EU or non-EU companies to refund purchases.

But “a number of other member states have doubts that in this case ammunition can be delivered to Ukraine on time, and we should not categorically exclude arms partners in Australia, South Korea, South Africa or Switzerland,” he said. their.

Europe’s biggest munitions maker, Germany’s Rheinmetall group, has a munitions factory in Australia and wants Europe to reimburse it for that production.

These negotiations will resume on Monday at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg, where Kuleba will participate via video conference.

“This issue is under discussion and an agreement will be reached,” a high-ranking European official assured, trying to reassure the participants.

Lloyd Austin Photo: Valeria Mongelli / AFP / Profimedia

Lloyd Austin: Putin’s war is not a consequence of NATO expansion, but a cause of NATO expansion

Speaking after a meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine, Lloyd Austin said that Vladimir Putin made “a number of serious miscalculations when he invaded Ukraine more than a year ago,” according to Sky News.

“He thought that Ukraine would not fight back, but Ukraine is strong with the help of its partners. Putin thought that our unity would collapse, but the brutal war chosen by Russia only brought us closer,” he said.

Lloyd also talked about Finland joining NATO, adding that he hopes Sweden will also join the military group quickly:

“I note that Finland, which has been involved in this contact group for a long time, is here today as a new NATO ally – I suspect that Sweden will soon follow.”

He added: “This makes one thing abundantly clear: Putin’s war is not the result of NATO expansion, but the cause of NATO expansion.”

“Leaks will not divide us”

Lloyd Austin also spoke about the leak of classified information in the US regarding the conflict in Ukraine and said he was overwhelmed by the support he received from allies.

“I take these issues very seriously. We will continue to work closely with our allies and partners in a spirit of continued respect and friendship,” he said.

“When we discussed this issue with our allies and partners, I was impressed by their solidarity and commitment. Nothing will break our unity and nothing will divide us,” said the American official.

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