Ukraine’s Ambassador to France Omelchenko: West promised to transport 321 heavy tanks to Kiev
PARIS, January 27 – RIA Novosti. Western countries have promised to transport 321 heavy tanks to Kiev, Ukraine’s ambassador to France said on Friday. Vadim Omelchenko.
Omelchenko noted that Ukraine “understands the risks” that the delivery of the tanks could take months. “This is why Volodymyr Zelensky insists that the tanks are needed as soon as possible. If they come in August or September, it will be too late,” he said.
On Sunday, French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out any option in terms of further arms supplies to Ukraine, including Leclerc tanks.
The German government has previously announced that it has decided to transfer the German Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Germany plans to establish two tank battalions. In the first phase, they plan to supply a company of 14 Leopard 2 type A6s from the Bundeswehr’s stocks. Earlier, the Polish leadership announced its readiness to transfer up to 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine as part of an international coalition. Prior to that, the country had transferred about 250 T-72 tanks to Ukraine. US President Joe Biden also announced that his administration will supply Ukraine with 31 American-made M1 Abrams tanks.
Russia sent a note to NATO countries for the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo containing weapons for Ukraine would become a legitimate target for Russia. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation stated that NATO countries are “playing with fire” by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Press Secretary of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitry Peskov noted that pumping weapons into Ukraine from the West does not contribute to the success of the Russian-Ukrainian negotiations and will have a negative effect.
Lavrov noted that the United States and NATO were directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine, “including not only the supply of weapons, but also the training of personnel … in Britain, Germany, Italy and other countries.”
Source: Ria
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