Ukraine has reaffirmed the importance of obtaining German “Leopard 2” tanks, in addition to modern military equipment, amid an American effort to search for Soviet weapons to be donated to Kiev, and a Russian warning that these efforts will lead to a “global catastrophe.”
In this context, Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andrei Yusov said that Ukraine will receive Leopard 2 tanks, and that negotiations are currently underway in this regard, adding that his country has made a major breakthrough in obtaining military assistance, adding that despite the lack of a public decision regarding the transfer of tanks Ukraine will have it.
He pointed out that the common position of Ukraine’s partners regarding the need for its victory has been formed, and that is why it needs tanks, including “Leopard 2” tanks, as he put it.
In turn, Deputy Commander of the Ukrainian Army, Yevin Moiseyuk, said that his country is waiting for the results of its allies’ efforts to provide it with heavy weapons as soon as possible, noting that the participants in the “Ramstein” meeting were well informed of the reality of the situation at the front.
He explained that his country provided Germany with a vision of possible scenarios for the development of the situation, and a list of the weapons it needs, adding that there is a consensus on the importance of training the Ukrainian forces, and that the Ukrainian army has proven that it is able to use modern equipment in the shortest possible time, he said.
The German newspaper “Bild” quoted German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius as saying that he will visit Ukraine as soon as possible, explaining that Berlin is in close dialogue with its international partners, especially Washington, regarding the delivery of “Leopard” tanks to Ukraine, in order to prepare well for possible decisions.
On the other hand, Russian State Duma Speaker Vyacheslav Volodin said that supplying Ukraine with offensive weapons would lead to a global catastrophe.
The Russian official warned Western countries – led by the United States – that this trend would lead to retaliatory measures with stronger weapons, as he put it.
Soviet weapons
On the other hand, US military officials said that the recent military aid packages to Ukraine do not prevent Washington from searching for Soviet-made military equipment that meets the requirements of the battle.
General Laura Richardson, commander of the US Southern Command, said Washington was working with countries that had Soviet equipment to either donate it or exchange it for US equipment. Experts believe that the targeted countries are: Peru, Mexico, Ecuador, Colombia, Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov responded that Moscow will closely monitor US attempts to urge Latin American countries to hand over weapons to Ukraine. Peskov referred to the legal restrictions that prohibit shipment to third countries, adding that any arms shipment is of course subject to certain obligations of those countries that receive military equipment.
Extension
On the other hand, the US Department of Defense said that it will extend the mission of several thousand of its forces in southeastern Romania for at least another 9 months, in implementation of President Joe Biden’s commitment to strengthening the US presence in Europe, in the wake of the Russian war on Ukraine.
The Pentagon considered that this step would ensure the continuation of the good position of the United States to provide a strong deterrent and defensive position alongside its allies in Europe.
The statement emphasized that the United States will continue to adjust its position as needed. In response to the dynamic security environment in the region.
fights
On the ground, there are conflicting reports regarding the battles in the Zaporozhye axis. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that its forces had taken control of important sites in this axis. On the other hand, the Ukrainian army described the Russian talk of penetrating its defenses there as a false claim.
The Ukrainian army stated that its forces had regained all their control over the past hours, and pushed the Russian forces back to their previous positions in Zaporizhia, in the south of the country.
Yevgeny Irene, a spokesman for the Ukrainian forces in the Zaporizhia and Kherson provinces, confirmed the escalation of combat operations in the Zaporizhia province, adding that the Russian forces are mobilizing their forces towards Kherson, and are sending more reinforcements through the Crimea.
The Ukrainian army said that its air force launched 17 raids during the past hours on the locations of the Russian forces and their missile systems inside Ukrainian territory.
For its part, the Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that the Russian forces carried out 27 raids during the past day, in addition to 55 missile salvoes, on unspecified Ukrainian sites.
It indicated that the Russian forces continued their offensive attempts in more than one direction, and that they bombed more than 15 areas in Zaporizhia and other areas in Kherson.
The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has warned that the Russian threat to launch land and air missile strikes and marches still exists throughout the country.
It added that the Russian forces are launching what they called “failed attacks” on the “Avdeev” and “Liman” axes, and are continuing their attempts in the Bakhmut axis, east of the country.
The ministry said that its forces repelled yesterday Russian attacks on several areas in Donetsk and Luhansk, in the east of the country.
Russian fighters in Bakhmut
And the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense broadcasted pictures that it said were of a group of Russian forces near the city of Bakhmut, and the Special Operations Command broadcasted pictures that it said were of battles between its units and Russian forces in the city of Solidar, without mentioning its date.
In a parallel context, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the elimination of regarding 300 Ukrainian soldiers during the past hours, and a spokesman for the ministry said that the Russian forces are advancing in the axes of Donetsk and Zaporizhia.
A pro-Moscow military correspondent reported the progress of the Russian forces towards Solidar Artimovsk and the “liberation” of the village of Krasnopol near the city of Solidar, adding that the Russian attack is still continuing in several directions, as he put it.
Yesterday, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced what it called the liberation of the Klychevka residential area, near Artymovsk, in the Donetsk region.
British assessment
For its part, the British Ministry of Defense said that Russia may face great difficulties in implementing the plans announced by its Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu a few days ago.
And the ministry stated – in an assessment of British intelligence published on Twitter – that the difficulties will focus on increasing the number of the armed forces to 1.5 million soldiers, and arming them as well.
She added that Shoigu’s plans to redistribute military regions reflect a partial return to Soviet times, and that the Russian leadership’s assessment is that there is a conventional military threat that will continue for years, even following the end of the Ukraine war.
