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Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur (left) with his British counterpart Ben Wallace in Tapa
Photo: INTS KALNINS / REUTERS
A group of European countries want to send new military aid to Ukraine.
This emerges from a joint statement by several countries.
The promised aid includes, among other things, Brimstone anti-tank weapons, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, machine guns and training Ukrainian soldiers on western weapon systems.
The statement is in preparation for the conference of pro-Ukraine countries on Friday at Ramstein Air Force Base.
Above all, it is eagerly awaited whether the delivery of battle tanks will be announced.
Great Britain has already committed to this, Poland and Finland are ready to do so in the European association.
The declaration that has now been passed was signed by Great Britain, Estonia, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia.
According to the Estonian version, Germany and Spain also signed, but the British version does not mention the two countries.
Main battle tanks should be aimed for
Basically, the signatory countries assure Ukraine of their continued support in Russia's war of aggression against the country.
It is interesting that the statement also mentions main battle tanks.
Specifically, it says: "Therefore, we pledge to work together to provide an unprecedented package of arms supplies for the defense of Ukraine, including main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defense, ammunition and armored personnel carriers."
Not all signatory countries have specifically promised new arms deliveries in the declaration.
The statement states the following.
In the statement, Great Britain
announced, among other things, that it would deliver
600 more Brimstone missiles
to Ukraine.
The anti-tank weapon will be "incredibly important in helping Ukraine dominate the battlefield," British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace said.
Estonia
announced that it would supply Ukraine with
anti-tank weapons
and
ammunition
, among other things .
Latvia
wants to give
Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, two helicopters and drones
to Ukraine.
Meanwhile,
Denmark announced that it would deliver
19
French-made Caesar howitzers to Ukraine.
This was not part of the declaration, but included the promise to continue to support the training of Ukrainian soldiers.
Lithuania
wants to
give up anti-aircraft guns
and
two helicopters
.
Poland
also
promises
anti-aircraft guns
and
ammunition
.
Regardless of the statement,
Sweden had previously announced that it would make the
Archer artillery
system available to
Ukraine, among other things .
UK Defense Minister Wallace and Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur initiated the meeting at the Estonian military base in Tapa, which was attended by representatives of several of Ukraine's allies.
"What Ukraine needs most are heavy weapons to take the initiative and stand up to Russia," host Pevkur said.
Lithuania's Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas stressed that support for the Ukrainian armed forces must be unlimited and called for the supply of main battle tanks.
The federal government has not yet taken a position on this - it plays a key role in the debate.
The Leopard tanks requested by Ukraine were developed in Germany.
The federal government must approve any transfer of these tanks, which are owned by 20 countries.
British Defense Secretary Wallace was confident in front of journalists.
"I think Germany will come with us on this trip," he said, advising other countries against supplying Leopard tanks to Kyiv without German approval.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki had hinted that Poland could supply Leopard tanks to Ukraine without waiting for German approval.
kko/Reuters/dpa
