Poland is ready to supply Kyiv with Leopard-2 tanks, within the framework of an international alliance

The Ukrainian army is fighting steadfastly in Solidar, and Russia is mobilizing its forces

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Gana Malyar, during a press conference in Kyiv.

EPA

The Ukrainian army announced yesterday that it is fighting and waging fierce battles to control the town of Solidar in the east, but the "situation is difficult" on the ground in light of the "fierce" battles with Russia strengthening its forces in Ukraine.

This coincided with Poland's announcement of its willingness to provide Kyiv with 14 advanced heavy tanks of the type "Leopard-2" within the framework of an international alliance that is currently being built.

In detail, the Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Defense, Ghana Malyar, confirmed yesterday that the army is fighting for Solidar in eastern Ukraine, but that the “situation is difficult” on the ground in light of the “fierce” battles with the Russian forces.

"The fiercest and fiercest battles continue in Solidar," Maliar said during a press conference.

"Although the situation is difficult, Ukrainian soldiers are fighting without stopping," she added.

The Ukrainian army said that it had repulsed Russian attacks in 13 different locations, and confirmed the continuation of heavy fighting in the small town of Soledar in the Donbass region, which was inhabited by about 10,000 people before the war.

“The front in the Donetsk region is resilient,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his daily address on Wednesday evening.

The fighting continues and we are doing everything to strengthen the Ukrainian defences.

Maliar welcomed the "steadfastness and heroism" of the Ukrainian forces participating in this violent battle that has been going on for several months.

Malyar said Russia was building up its forces in the country, but Ukrainian forces were fighting fierce battles for control of Solidar.

She explained in a press statement that the number of Russian military units in Ukraine had risen to 280, up from 250 a week ago, while Moscow is trying to seize the "strategic initiative".

Another senior military official, Brigadier General Oleksiy Gromov, said at the press briefing that the military situation in Ukraine is still "difficult" and that the fiercest confrontations are taking place on the eastern front.

For his part, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the situation in the annexed Ukrainian territories as "difficult".

Putin added during talks with government officials on Wednesday, "In some areas, fighting is still going on... but all this does not necessitate stopping."

In a related context, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu made new appointments to lead the special military operation in Ukraine, where General Valery Gerasimov was appointed as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, replacing Sergei Surovikin, who took over in November.

Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda announced during a visit to Ukraine on Wednesday that his country is ready to provide Kyiv with 14 advanced heavy tanks of the type "Leopard-2", provided that this takes place within the framework of an international alliance that is currently being built.

During a visit to the city of Lviv in western Ukraine, Duda said in a joint press conference with his Ukrainian and Lithuanian counterparts that "the Leopard tank division (14 tanks) will be sent within the framework of an alliance that is currently being established."

He added, "As you know, there are a number of formal conditions that must be met, such as obtaining approvals and so on, but most of all, we want this to be an international coalition," noting that it relies on other countries to participate in the deliveries.

Leopard-2 are advanced German-made heavy tanks, and therefore the sale or donation of any of them must obtain prior approval from Berlin.

The Ukrainian president welcomed the statement of his Polish counterpart, saying that his country expects a "joint decision" involving additional countries willing to send Leopard tanks.

"A country alone cannot help us, because we are fighting thousands of Russian tanks," Zelensky said.

He added, "I think there will be a positive decision from another country to provide us with modern Western tanks," without naming the country he was talking about.

During the same press conference, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausida announced that his country would send Zenit anti-aircraft systems with ammunition to Ukraine.

Ukraine is asking Germany in particular to hand over tanks, and Berlin has not yet responded to its request for Leopard 2 armored vehicles.

In Berlin, Norbert Röttgen, foreign policy expert for the opposition Christian Democratic Party, described the German government's delay in arms supplies to Ukraine as a "tragedy".

Looking at Russia's war in Ukraine, he told Deutsche Radio, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's decision-making too quickly, only when there is enough international pressure, causes Europe to split.

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