Zelensky to Ramstein, I can't use words as weapons

BRUSSELS -

: thank you for your help but we have to speed up, the Kremlin must lose, I encourage you to make decisions and give us the tanks and long-range missiles."

This was stated by the Ukrainian president,

, addressing for the first time the contact group for Ukraine in Ramstein.

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.

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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.

"I welcome the significant new package of combat capabilities announced in Ramstein for self-defense of Ukraine

: Russia is preparing for new offensives, therefore it is urgent to step up support to enable Ukraine to win and retake the occupied territory ".

wrote on Twitter

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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.

and called on allies and partners to follow their example.