[ad_1]
For weeks, Ukraine has been praying to the West for more heavy weapons. Some NATO countries will offer such supplies, but so far it is known that only a small country has provided them.
Ukraine’s survival as a sovereign state can be decided in the Donbas – and it depends on what weapons Ukraine will use to confront the Russian occupiers. That is why the Ukrainian government is so insistent on equipping its military forces with heavy weapons. These include PzH 200 type tanks, and rocket launchers, as well as warships, military helicopters, fighter jets. Meanwhile, almost all NATO countries have sent light weapons, defense equipment or ammunition, but not heavy weapons, because it was seen as a danger to be interpreted by Russia as interference in the war and thus justify an attack on NATO. . But now before the big offensive that has started in Donbas it seems that one after another NATO countries are putting aside these concerns. A number of NATO countries have announced that they will send heavy weapons. Due to military secrecy many details are not made public. But some information has leaked.
Czech Republic
The Prague government was among the first to promise arms supplies to Ukraine. As early as January with the march of Russian troops on the Ukrainian border, the Czech Republic provided combat ammunition and tank grenades adapted to the Soviet weapon systems that many former Warsaw Pact countries still have in their arsenals. The Czech Republic is probably the first country to supply Ukraine with tanks from Soviet reserves. And not just BMP defensive type, but also T-72 type combat tanks. Both of these were used by the Ukrainian army.
poland
Poland also contributed before the war to the modernization of the Ukrainian army and provided further developed Russian weapons systems along with ammunition. Poland’s proposal in early March to send MiG29 military aircraft was thwarted by other NATO partners. In early April Warsaw brought another proposal, the stationing of atomic weapons in the country. Now this country has also promised heavy weapons, but gives no details about it.
Slovenia
This country, too, is willing to supply tanks from Soviet reserves. In return Germany has offered Marder and Luchs type defense and interception tanks. According to the dpa news agency, Slovenia is looking for modern successor models, the Puma and Boxer as well as the replacement of combat tanks with the German Leopard 2 tank.
Turkey
Turkey has sold at least 20 Bayraktar TB2 fighter jets to Ukraine in recent years. These supplies are not related to the Russian attack, because they have been offered before, but in reality they are the only offensive weapons offered by NATO countries, which Ukraine has put to use.
Germany
The German government will not send heavy weapons to Ukraine. Instead it provides Kiev with defensive tanks, grenades, drones, defense equipment and ammunition from industry reserves. On offer as the heaviest weapon are 12 grenade launchers of caliber 120 mm up to a distance of 7.5 km.
Other NATO countries
While Italy and France make almost no public arms supplies to Ukraine, other NATO countries have officially announced the shipment of heavy weapons, including Belgium, Norway and Canada. More specifically, the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, mentioned the delivery of missiles that could attack the sea, and the Dutch Prime Minister, Mark Rutte, who spoke about the delivery of tanks.
US
So far the US has made the largest contribution to the Ukrainian military. About $ 2.5 billion has been approved by Washington since the start of the war. Thus the Ukrainian army with anti-tank missiles, Javelin has destroyed a number of Russian tanks. Last week, Washington announced the immediate delivery of 18 heavy artillery pieces with 40,000 rounds of ammunition, 300 armored vehicles, 11 MI-17 transport helicopters and other weapons. Part of the military supplies has arrived in the meantime. President Biden has promised more aid.
Germany has offered Ukraine the Strela air defense missile
European Union
The EU has adopted since the beginning of the war 1.5 billion euros in so-called peace options, from which member states can buy for Ukraine “defense equipment, first aid kits, fuel, as well as military equipment and platforms with which lethal violence can be used for defensive purposes ”. But these funds are not allowed to finance heavy weapons, as many NATO countries now want.
So far no supplies of fighter jets
Pentagon spokesman John Kirby announced this week that Ukraine has also received MiG-29 fighter jets from the former Warsaw Pact countries. Kirby has withdrawn this statement in the meantime. They were just spare parts, with which the planes could be put back to work. At the same time the debate continues, whether such MiG-29 weapons will have to be supplied by Poland, Bulgaria or Romania. Ukrainian pilots know this type of aircraft and can use it, unlike Western aircraft, where they need special training./DW
top channel
[ad_2]
Source link
