Today’s top news
Summit in Ramstein on military aid to Ukraine
At Ramstein Air Base in Germany, defense leaders from some 50 countries are meeting to discuss their military support for Ukraine. The allies are considering Kiev’s request to supply tanks and heavier weapons. A number of countries want to send modern Leopard 2 tanks, but are still waiting for the necessary permission from Berlin. “I can’t imagine Germany falling behind,” says former Land Forces commander Mart de Kruif.
All updates today
Russia: Western tanks will not change the outcome of the war
11:10 am | Russia says supplying Western tanks to Ukraine will not change the outcome of the war. The Kremlin spokesman said the tanks would not help Ukraine defeat Russia.
“The West has a delusion that Ukraine can beat Russia,” Peskov said. The importance of such equipment should not be overstated. This will only cause problems for Ukraine and will not change the goals Russia wants to achieve.”
The Kremlin says the conflict between Ukraine and Russia is spiraling out of control. ‘We also see NATO getting involved in this. Both indirectly and directly.’
In Germany, dozens of countries are discussing further military aid to Ukraine today. The main question is whether Germany wants to supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and whether it will allow other countries to do this.
The United States is one of the countries that supports Ukraine with many weapons. Russia says ties with the US are at an all-time low. “We don’t see how that bond can be improved.”
Germany gives Ukraine another 52 million euros for recovery
11am | Germany will give Ukraine another 52 million euros for recovery after the war. Development Minister Svenja Schulze pledged the money during a visit to the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa.
“During this war, we are rebuilding Ukraine into a free and independent Ukraine,” Schulze said. Germany had already given around €600 million to Ukraine in 2022. The aid is intended to help municipalities make heating, electricity and medical care possible more quickly.
Schulze pledges the day talks are held at the US air base in Germany Ramstein on further military aid to Ukraine. The main question is whether Germany will supply Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and whether it will allow other countries, such as Poland, to do so.
Ukraine’s allies are discussing the delivery of tanks to the German Ramstein
03:30 | At Ramstein Air Base in Germany, defense leaders from some 50 countries are meeting to discuss their military support for Ukraine. The allies are considering Kiev’s request to supply tanks and heavier weapons. A number of countries want to send modern Leopard 2 tanks, but are still waiting for the necessary permission from Berlin. “I can’t imagine Germany falling behind,” says former Land Forces commander Mart de Kruif.
Pressure is mounting on Germany to approve the handover, because Poland, for example, has already suggested not to wait for a German authorization if it doesn’t take too long. The advanced Leopard tanks were produced by Germany and, according to German rules, permission from Berlin is required for delivery to Ukraine, for example.
The new German defense minister Boris Pistorius spoke Thursday with his American colleague Lloyd Austin before the meeting at Ramstein, a US air base on German territory. According to media reports, Germany would only send tanks if the US did too, but the Americans wouldn’t want to make that link. Austin is expected to announce Friday that he will send 100 armored fighting vehicles.
Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky criticized Germany’s hesitation. German tanks are considered the most suitable for the Armed Forces of Ukraine and can also be best supplied with ammunition and spare parts from Europe.
The Netherlands is also in favor of supplying tanks to Ukraine. Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren is also present at the Ramstein meeting. Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced earlier this week that the Netherlands wants to participate in the German-American project to send Patriot air defenses to Ukraine.
Newspaper: The head of the CIA visited Kiev and spoke with Zelensky
02:00 | Director William Burns of the US intelligence service CIA paid a secret visit to the Ukrainian capital Kiev late last week. He personally updated President Volodimir Zelensky on what Russia’s plans are according to the CIA for the coming months, writes the Washington Post citing government sources.
According to the newspaper, Burns, who is considered an expert on Russia and was previously ambassador to Moscow, enjoys high prestige in Kiev because his previous warnings about Russian attack plans were correct. Like Kiev, he expects little from peace talks with Russia.
In the conversation, Ukrainians expressed fears that support for their country in the United States is waning, especially as Republicans have a majority in the House of Representatives. The Ukrainian military is heavily dependent on arms aid from the West, especially the United States, to resist Russian supremacy. Burns cautioned that they should really take into account that at some point that help will become more difficult, insiders told the paper.
Another $2.5 billion in US arms aid to Ukraine
01:00 | The United States is making another $2.5 billion (€2.3 billion) of military aid available to Ukraine. The package that the US Department of Defense announced Thursday evening does not contain the heavy tanks requested by Kiev, but 59 Bradley fighting vehicles, 90 armored personnel carriers and 350 so-called Humvees.
With the 50 Bradleys announced last week that the United States is supplying, Ukraine will have enough armored vehicles to equip two brigades, the Pentagon said. In addition, the country will receive air defense systems and large quantities of ammunition. The aid comes from the defense ministry’s reserves.
Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 last year, the United States has provided more than $26.7 billion in military aid, the Pentagon said.