Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the United States on Friday (January 20) for a new security assistance package for the war-torn nation. While the Western allies are mulling more military aid, especially tanks, to Kyiv to help their fight against Russia.
Zelensky expressed his gratitude to US President Joe Biden for providing Ukraine with another powerful $2.5 billion defense support package.
Zelensky praised the latest package which included Stryker armored personnel carriers, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles and Avenger air defense systems. He said it will be an “important help in our fight against the aggressor.”
The Ukrainian prime minister also mentioned that the West has the power to provide the war-torn nation with tanks, F-16 jets and long-range missiles.
Discussion about Leopard 2 tanks
Zelensky called on Western allies to “speed up” arms deliveries as he spoke during defense ministers’ talks at the Ramstein airbase in Germany. The main focus of the meeting at the Ramstein airbase was whether Germany will allow the supply of its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
Zelensky said that the allies needed “not to negotiate on different numbers of tanks, but to open that main supply that will stop the evil.”
Kremlin issues warning
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has warned that Western tanks will make little difference on the ground. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that “the importance of such supplies in terms of the ability to change something should not be exaggerated.”
“This will add problems to Ukraine, but this will not change anything in terms of the Russian side moving forward on the path to achieving its goals,” he added.
US says ‘go even deeper’ to support Ukraine
At the donors’ meeting, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Western allies must “go even deeper” to support Ukraine with military aid at a crucial time in its battle against Russia.
Austin said: “We need to dig even deeper. This is a defining moment for Ukraine. The Ukrainian people are watching us, the Kremlin is watching us, and history is watching us.”
(With contributions from agencies)
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