NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told German media on Sunday that Ukraine can expect additional deliveries of heavy weapons from its Western allies “in the near future.”

“Recent pledges to supply heavy weapons are important – and I expect more in the near future,” Jens Stoltenberg told the daily Handelsblatt ahead of a new coordination meeting of Western aid to Ukraine at the US Ramstein airbase on January 20. Germany, quoted by AFP.

“We are in a decisive phase of the war,” Stoltenberg continued. “So it is important to give Ukraine the weapons it needs to win.”

Western countries have long been reluctant to supply Ukraine with heavy weapons, citing fears of being drawn into a war or provoking Russia.

Now the range of weapons they provide has expanded. Earlier this month, France, Germany and the United States pledged to build armored vehicles with infantry or reconnaissance tanks – 40 German Marders, 50 American Bradleys and the French AMX-10 RC.

Britain announced on Saturday that it will supply Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, becoming the first country to supply Kiev with Western-made heavy tanks. Moscow condemned the decision, which will only “deepen” the conflict.

Poland announced on Wednesday that it will send Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition, the first Western-made tanks that Kyiv will receive since the start of the Russian invasion, Reuters reported.

The Secretary General of NATO said that Russian President Vladimir Putin made a mistake by attacking Ukraine.

“He overestimated the strength of his own armed forces. We see their mistakes, their lack of morale, their command problems, their poor equipment,” he said.

But the Russians “showed that they are ready to bear great losses to achieve their goal,” he added.

However, German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall may deliver refurbished Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine no earlier than 2024, its CEO said on Sunday, quoted by Bild daily and Reuters.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that Russian attacks on civilian targets can be stopped only if Ukraine’s Western partners provide the necessary weapons, Reuters reports.

“What is the need for this? Those weapons that are in the warehouses of our partners and for which our soldiers have been waiting for so long,” Zelenskyy said in a video address at night, after a series of missile attacks on Ukrainian cities by Russia.

“The whole world knows how to stop those who sow death. Thanks to everyone who helps us in this!” he added.