Ramstein meeting: no progress on heavy tanks requested by kyiv
Participants of the Ramstein meeting dedicated to the war in Ukraine, Germany, this Friday, January 20, 2023. AP - Michael Probst
Text by: RFI Follow
2 mins
No progress on the question of heavy tanks, claimed by Ukraine, but which the latter's allies are reluctant to deliver.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky encouraged Western countries to strengthen their military support, before the Ramstein meeting, convened at the initiative of the United States... It is yes for a new delivery of missiles, ammunition, armored vehicles light, but the promises stop there.
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An important meeting is taking place this Friday at the American base in Ramstein, Germany.
Ukraine's allies, kyiv's friendly countries, are meeting there to talk about military armament.
More material, more armament, more support against the Russian army;
this is the line pushed by the Americans, who are hosting representatives from around fifty countries for the occasion.
At the heart of the discussions, the delivery of tanks – heavy tanks – to the Ukrainian army.
But despite pleas from kyiv, still no Abrams or Leclerc tanks from Washington or Paris, and no movement either about the Leopards held by Germany.
The debate is still not settled.
Impossible, according to the new German Minister of Defense, to say when a decision will be taken and what will be the nature.
Boris Pistorius prefers to temporize.
We don't hesitate, he says, we weigh the pros and cons.
As for this idea of a Germany isolated among the allies of Ukraine, which would be the only one to refuse to deliver heavy tanks, it is false, he asserts.
Opinions are not as uniform as it seems.
In the meantime, the German government maintains its red line: no question of going solo.
Berlin will only deliver its Leopards to Ukraine, or allow other countries to do so, on one condition: if and only if the United States takes the first step by unleashing its Abrams tanks.
It is a question of principle and a moral blockage too.
Because the last time Germany deployed tanks against Russia was during the Nazi regime during World War II.
►To re-read: Ukraine: more and more arms deliveries to kyiv, which is calling for tanks
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