The US urged allies to increase military support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian forces: “History is watching us”

The western allies they should increase their military aid to Ukraine at a crucial moment in his fight against russian forcesurged on Friday the US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin.

“We have to go even deeper, it’s a defining moment for Ukraine,” Austin said at the opening of a meeting of Ukraine’s allies at the air base in ramstein, Germany. “The Ukrainian people look at us, the Kremlin looks at us, and history looks at us”, he added.

For his part, the Ukrainian president, Volodimir Zelenskyinsisted today that his country accurate tankssince with the anti-aircraft systems is not enough to defend itself against Russia, in a virtual intervention before Contact Group for Ukraine focused on kyiv’s demand for armored vehicles leopard.

Zelensky implored the Western allies to “accelerate” arms deliveries while his nation faces attack from Russia.

“We greatly appreciate all the support you have received so far and your air defense systems, but we need to artillery Y tanks”, affirmed the Ukrainian leader, at the opening of the sessions of the meeting held by that group at the US base in Ramstein (Germany).

The president, in a videoconference message, urged “not to negotiate on the quantities of tanks, but to release this important delivery that will stop evil.”

The Pentagon had already announced on Thursday a new military aid package for Ukraine worth 2.5 billion dollars, with armored cars Y anti-aircraft defensesbut without the tanks Abrams that Germany asked him to contribute.

In a statement, the US Department of Defense informed that it will send kyiv 59 bradley fighting tankswith 590 TOW anti-tank missiles and 295,000 pieces of 25-millimeter ammunition.

Likewise, it will allocate eight anti-aircraft defense systems to Ukraine avenger350 off-road humvee20,000 155-millimeter artillery pieces and 90 armored vehicles stryker with 20 artifacts for demining, among others.

The package also includes HARM missiles, of the air-to-ground type, which are used to destroy anti-aircraft defense systems equipped with radars; 2,000 anti-armor rockets, and 3 million small arms ammunition.

The Pentagon said the latest airstrikes on Ukraine’s “crucial” infrastructure demonstrate “the devastating impact of Russia’s brutal war.”

He stressed that the 59 Bradleys will join the fifty that he announced on January 6 and that together with the 90 Strykers will mean two armored brigades for Ukraine

The Pentagon assured this Thursday that it makes no sense for the US to now send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, as Germany has requested in exchange for providing the battle tanks. Leopard 2.

The Undersecretary of the Press US Department of Defense, sabrina singhHe said at a press conference that it is a matter of maintenance.

Abrams “is a tank that requires jet fuel, while the Leopards and the challenger (These latest British tanks that are going to go to Ukraine) have a different engine, they need diesel, they are a bit easier to maintain,” Singh said.

The US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, is visiting Germany, where he met this Thursday with his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, who assured that his country will continue to support Ukraine with its partners so that it can defend itself, but did not mention the question of the contribution of Leopard 2 tanks.

Until now, the German line has been to coordinate the shipment with the allies and, according to German media reports, the chancellor Olaf Schölz told the US president, Joe Bidenthat his country would only send Leopard 2 if the US also sends Abrams tanks.

Singh recalled that the US has already provided Ukraine with Bradley battle tanks and will continue to send equipment to kyiv.

Although similar to a tank, the Bradleys are main battle tanks with lighter armor and a smaller gun, typically 25mm compared to the 120mm Abrams.

Despite the fact that the US has numerous armored cars, the Abrams is the only proper tank: its size is larger, it has a movable turret equipped with a large gun and it has caterpillar traction.

Since the start of the Russian invasion on February 24, the US has sent Ukraine more than $26.7 billion in military aid.

(With information from EFE)

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