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"Important and very constructive" was the defense conference on Ukraine held at the U.S. air base in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate city of Ramstein, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said. It is a US initiative, and it was attended by defence ministers from the EU, NATO and a total of 40 other Western countries with the aim, at a critical phase of the aggressive Russian war, such as the current one, to give Kiev the maximum possible military support to stand up.
Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos also participated in the conference.
The conference was attended by Greek Defence Minister Nikos Panagiotopoulos.
"The West is as determined as ever" against Russian threats of "World War III"
In statements after the proceedings, Lloyd Austin stressed that the conference made clear that the coming days and weeks are crucial for Ukraine. "We have reached a new phase on the battlefield and we must react. The West is more determined than ever. We will move heaven and earth to help Ukraine win." The U.S. Defense Secretary criticized Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's warnings today about the risk of a Third World War and possible use of nuclear weapons. "Any talk of possible use of nuclear weapons is very dangerous and useless," he said, adding that "no one wants a nuclear war, no one can win it," adding, however, that "there is always a possibility of many things happening, but it's risky and it doesn't help anyone to play with swords and speculate about the use of nuclear weapons." The US Secretary stressed that the US is doing everything in its power to prevent war from escaping from Ukraine's borders. "The world stands united against the Moscow government, Ukraine is convinced that it will win this war, and so are all of us here."
Lloyd Austin announced that from now on the conference will be held on a monthly basis in the form of a contact group, without specifying at what level, with the aim of monitoring Ukraine's defence needs after the end of the war so that it can guarantee its security and territorial integrity.
Zelensky: Russia wants to break up Europe
A video message was also sent by Volodymyr Zelensky, stressing that the countries of the free world understand that the Russian attack on Ukraine is only the beginning and that the ultimate goal is to break up Europe.
"Today in Germany there was an important meeting at the level of defense ministers of Ukraine's partner countries, the main topic of which was strengthening the protection of the whole of Europe from Russia's aggressive ambitions. The ultimate goal of Russia's leadership is not only to take over Ukraine's territory, but to dismember the entire Central and Eastern Europe, as well as a global blow to democracy," Zelensky said, adding that the free world has the right to self-defence and therefore will help Ukraine even more.
Heavy weapons from Germany to Ukraine
At the conference, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht announced that Germany intends to facilitate the provision of heavy weapons to Ukraine, news that had been leaked in German newspapers since the morning, marking a shift in Berlin's stance so far. As he told reporters in Ramstein after the conclusion of the talks, Germany will give the green light for the delivery of 50 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks from the stocks of German arms giant Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW). The announcement drew praise from the US Secretary of Defense. "Germany is a great friend and partner of the US, the delivery of 50 battle tanks is an important step that brings Ukraine additional (defence) capabilities," he said.
The German message
Commenting on the development to Reuters, Marcel Dirsus, from the Kiel Institute for Security Policy, said the real significance of the German decision lies not in the difference that activating the Gepards can make on the battlefield, but in the message the decision itself sends. According to Welt, the delivery of the Gepard anti-aircraft tank system has long been discussed. The war industry Krauss Maffei Wegmann had already announced last February that it had from its own stocks about 50 tanks that could be delivered to Ukraine after a relatively quick repair. A similar proposal was submitted to the German government, the company said. Its head Ralph Ketzel said that the weapon systems could be put back into service in a short period of time. If the delivery is eventually made, it will not be the first time the German government has approved the shipment of these tanks.
Already in 2020 Berlin approved the delivery of 15 Gepard models to Qatar to protect the World Cup soccer tournament at the end of 2022 from terrorist attacks with drones. Although this model has long been withdrawn from the German armed forces, with its new radar system it is considered a very effective weapon with a very high accuracy rate of its guns. In any case, it is a model from the era when the Cold War was at its height.
Moscow also threatens London
Meanwhile, Russia seems to be opening a front with Britain as well, as the Kremlin appears annoyed by the West's urging of Zelensky's forces to continue the war, inflicting significant blows on Putin's army.
The Kremlin's assessment, moreover, as expressed by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, is that NATO is waging a proxy war in Ukraine, reinforcing the Ukrainian forces with military hardware.
Thus, Russia warned Britain today that if it continues to urge Ukraine to hit targets in Russia, there will be an immediate "proportional response," Reuters reported, citing RIA, which in turn reported information from the Russian Defense Ministry
According to British Armed Forces Minister James Hippy, it is perfectly legal for Ukraine to hit Russian supply lines and fuel supplies.
The British minister admitted that the weapons the international community is now providing have ranges that can hit targets in Russia.
Specifically, Hippy said it would be acceptable for Ukrainian forces to use Western weapons to attack military targets on Russian territory, adding that strikes to disrupt supply lines are a "perfectly legal" part of the war.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov earlier accused NATO of engaging in a proxy war and said weapons delivered by the West to Ukraine would be fair targets.
The UK announced that it would give Ukraine a small number of anti-aircraft vehicles.
Source: Deutsche Welle
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