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Russia's war against Ukraine: who is now supplying which weapons to Kyiv?

2023-01-21T10:19:17.102Z


Howitzers, armored personnel carriers, anti-aircraft systems: at a conference in Ramstein, numerous countries promised Ukraine new military aid. The overview.


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US soldiers next to a Stryker armored personnel carrier during a military exercise in Latvia in 2015

Photo: INTS KALNINS/ REUTERS

February 24 marks the anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which began the Russian war of aggression against the entire country.

For almost a year, the western partners have been supporting Kyiv with a wide variety of weapons, humanitarian aid and training programs for the Ukrainian troops.

"Ukraine will get all the help it needs," US President Joe Biden promised on Saturday.

Ukraine has been demanding the delivery of main battle tanks, in particular the Leopard 2, for some time. Poland, among others, has declared its willingness to deliver.

However, since the tanks come from German production, Germany must agree to a transfer.

So far, this has not happened, and no decision was made at a meeting of Western allies at the US air base in Ramstein on Friday.

The question of whether Germany will supply battle tanks itself is also an open one.

Ukraine's allies have nonetheless promised large new arms supplies.

The commitments of the countries at a glance.

USA

The United States has announced further arms deliveries to Ukraine to the tune of $2.5 billion.

According to the US Department of Defense, the latest aid package does not include main battle tanks, but an additional 59 Bradley tanks, 90 Stryker armored vehicles, Avenger air defense systems and thousands of rounds of ammunition.

With this package, the country's total military aid to Kyiv since Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine began in February last year has totaled more than $26.7 billion.

(Read about the roles of different countries in tank poker here.)

Great Britain

Just a few days after the announcement that it would deliver Challenger 2 heavy battle tanks to Ukraine, London has once again stepped up its military aid for Kyiv.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace announced plans to send 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine.

These are air-to-surface missiles intended for use against armored vehicles and tanks.

So far, the British have given Ukraine military material worth 2.3 billion pounds, the equivalent of around 2.6 billion euros.

They follow the USA in the list of arms suppliers for Kyiv.

Germany

At the beginning of January, the federal government promised Ukraine the delivery of 40 Marder armored personnel carriers and a Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery.

In addition, according to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD), seven more anti-aircraft tanks of the Gepard type are to be delivered by February, so that Ukraine will then have 37 of these tanks.

In the coming weeks, further guided missiles of the Iris-T SLM variant are to be delivered, followed by another Iris-T SLM complete system in the spring.

German support since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression then amounts to 3.3 billion euros.

However, the debate is determined by the demand from Germany and abroad to also supply Kyiv with the Leopard 2 main battle tank or at least to allow allied countries to supply the German-made tanks.

After the Ramstein conference, EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola told the Handelsblatt that she was "optimistic about the tanks, too, because this is the logical next step."

The Leopard 2 tanks are at the center of the debate "because there are a lot of them, because they are relatively easy to maintain, because many European countries have them and because Ukraine simply needs them".

This is the crucial moment that requires courageous decisions.

France

Paris wants to send about 30 AMX-10 RC reconnaissance tanks to Ukraine.

However, when and how many of the vehicles will be delivered remains unclear.

Poland

Poland promises Kyiv anti-aircraft guns and ammunition in a new package.

However, President Andrzej Duda recently announced that the country was ready to give 14 of its more than 200 Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition.

Government spokesman Piotr Müller had said with regard to Germany that Poland wanted to "enforce certain behaviors".

According to hints from Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, the country is considering supplying Leopard tanks to Ukraine even in the event of a German no.

Canada

Canada gives Ukraine 200 armored personnel carriers.

The delivery is part of a $400 million military aid package announced in November.

In total, Canada has pledged €920 million worth of military aid to Kyiv, including armored vehicles, howitzers, winter clothing, camera drones and ammunition.

Sweden

Sweden wants to provide Ukraine with the Archer artillery system.

How many of the howitzer systems are to be delivered initially remained unclear.

According to Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson, Sweden also plans to send 50 CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles and NLAW anti-tank weapons to Ukraine.

With the planned deliveries, Sweden is moving away from its stance of not supplying arms to a country at war.

Netherlands

According to the Netherlands, it is joining a "cooperation project with the USA and Germany" on the joint delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.

It is therefore about two rocket launchers and rockets.

The Netherlands also announced that it would take responsibility for training Ukrainian soldiers and provide 100 vehicles bought from the Czech Republic, equipped with anti-aircraft guns.

Denmark

Denmark says it is donating 19 French-made Caesar howitzers to Ukraine.

According to the Danish Defense Ministry, Kyiv requested the artillery despite certain technical challenges.

However, so far only a few of the howitzers have been delivered to Copenhagen from France.

Finland

Helsinki has pledged 400 million euros worth of military aid to Kyiv.

This includes heavy artillery and ammunition, according to Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola.

It is the largest delivery from Finland to Ukraine to date.

The previous commitments had a total value of 190 million euros.

In principle, Helsinki is also willing to deliver some Leopard tanks in the European network.

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania

None of the three Baltic countries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania have their own main battle tanks.

However, Estonia has now announced armaments with a total value of around 113 million euros, including anti-tank weapons and ammunition, according to the Estonian government.

The package would increase Estonian military aid to Ukraine to 370 million euros "or just over one percent of Estonia's gross domestic product," it said.

Meanwhile, Latvia wants to give Ukraine Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, two helicopters and drones in a new package.

Lithuania has promised Kyiv anti-aircraft guns and two helicopters.

kko/AFP/Reuters

Source: spiegel

All news articles on 2023-01-21

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