Ukraine: Faced with demand for more new weapons from kyiv, Westerners at risk of escalation
Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine, January 28, 2023. REUTERS - STRINGER
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3 mins
Ukraine needs new weapons to deal with a "very difficult" military situation in the east of the country, President Zelensky said Sunday evening.
How to respond to this demand without putting your finger in an escalation with Moscow is squaring the circle for Westerners.
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Ukraine needs new weapons and faster deliveries to deal with a "
very difficult
" situation of constant attacks by Russian forces in the eastern region of Donetsk, President Zelensky said in a video message on Sunday.
Bakhmut, Vougledar and other areas of the Donetsk region are under "
constant Russian attacks
".
“
Russia wants the war to drag on and exhaust our forces.
We must therefore make time our weapon.
We need to speed up events, speed up supplies and open up new weapons options for Ukraine.
»
The question of arms deliveries to Ukraine and the nature of these arms was also raised from Santiago in Chile by the German Chancellor, currently on tour in South America.
No Berlin fighter planes
Germany will not send fighter jets to Ukraine, Olaf Scholz said on Sunday.
After several weeks of hesitation, Berlin decided last week
to send 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine
and to allow other European countries to supply similar tanks to Kiev.
But “
The question of combat aircraft does not even arise.
I can only advise against entering into a constant bidding war when it comes to weapon systems
, ”clarified the Chancellor in an interview with the
Tagesspiegel newspaper,
from Santiago.
►
To read also:
Heavy tanks for Ukraine, how far will the military commitment of the West go?
The decision to send German tanks to Ukraine was accompanied by a similar choice by the United States to supply the Ukrainian army with American-made Abrams tanks.
While thanking Berlin and Washington, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky immediately called for more, including fighter planes and long-range missiles.
In his interview with the
Tagesspiegel
, Olaf Scholz again warns of the "
risk of escalation
" with Moscow.
“
There is no war between NATO and Russia.
We will not allow such an escalation
,” he said.
According to him, it is "necessary" to continue talking with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Their last meeting dates back to the beginning of December.
►
To read also
: Aid to Ukraine, a dangerous gear for Westerners?
(with agencies)
Olaf Scholz reaffirmed on Sunday that his country will not allow the war in Ukraine to turn into a conflict between Russia and NATO.
“
No country supports Ukraine more than Germany
,” Olaf Scholz said after a meeting with Chilean President Gabriel Boric.
“
We helped ensure that there was no escalation of the conflict, as this would have serious consequences for the whole world.
This would lead, for example, to a war between Russia and the NATO countries, this will not happen, we will prevent it with all our efforts, we have succeeded so far and we will continue to do so
”, he added.
"
It's about supporting Ukraine, it's about having a serious debate to make the decisions that need to be made and it shouldn't be a competition (to know) who sends the most weapons
,"
The German Chancellor also said his country will not send fighter jets to Ukraine.
After several weeks of hesitation, Berlin finally agreed to send 14 German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Olaf Schoz also recalled that Germany "
provided its support, like other countries, in the form of financial, humanitarian and arms deliveries - it is our obligation
".
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