Zelensky Rejects Ramstein’s War Rhetoric

“We don’t have much time, terrorism leaves no time for discussions. The war started by Russia doesn’t allow us delays, I can’t use words instead of weapons to defend Ukraine: thank you for your help but we have to speed up, the Kremlin must lose, I encourage you to make the decisions and give us the tanks and long-range missiles.” This was stated by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, addressing for the first time the contact group for Ukraine in Ramstein.

NATO Allies and Other Partners

In fact, the eighth meeting of the US-led contact group for Ukraine, which brings together around 50 countries, including NATO allies and other partners, opened today at the American base in Ramstein, Germany. Representing Washington is Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The League for Ukraine, as defined by Austin himself, will discuss a new military aid package in Kiev, in view of the probable Russian offensive in the spring. A group of nine European countries – Estonia, the United Kingdom, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia – issued a joint statement yesterday saying they are willing to supply Ukraine with heavy vehicles, including tanks armed. For now, Germany has proved to be the most skeptical country and has denied permission to export its Leopard 2 tanks.

“In 2023 it is unlikely that Ukraine will be able to expel all Russian forces from its territory. I’m not saying it is impossible but I realistically believe that this year the front will be able to stabilize, tactical operations can be mounted to free as much territory as possible”. This was stated by the US Army Chief of Staff, General Mark Milley, after the Ramstein summit. Regarding the hypothesis of attacks on Crimea with US weapons, Milley replied: “We do not discuss the rules of engagement in public”.

“I welcome the significant new package of combat capabilities announced in Ramstein for self-defense of Ukraine: Russia is preparing for new offensives, so it is urgent to step up support to enable Ukraine to win and retake the occupied territory “. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on Twitter.

The NATO secretary general thanked US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin for US leadership in providing very significant military aid to Ukraine and welcomed recent announcements from other NATO allies and partners, including Germany, France , Canada, Denmark, the Netherlands and Sweden, covering air defense, infantry fighting vehicles and armored vehicles. Finally, Stoltenberg welcomed the fact that the UK, France and Poland are ready to supply tanks and light tanks and called on allies and partners to follow their example.

This article is originally published on ansa.it