Ukrainian troops will start coaching with the Leopard tanks from Monday, Ukraine’s Protection Minister Oleksiy Reznikov introduced.
Chatting with reporters throughout a information convention in Kyiv, he mentioned: “We’re accumulating reserves and dealing on coaching extra personnel, getting the Western weapons.”
Reznikov additionally warned of an upcoming Russian offensive. “We anticipate an offensive. It is February, and Russians love symbolism. We anticipate this stress from them, and we’re prepared,” he mentioned.
However tanks aren’t the one weapons Ukraine must defend itself from enemy bombardment. In line with Reznikov, it wants long-range weapons reaching 150 kilometers that have to be “simpler and lively.” The utmost vary of the present artillery offered by the West is 144 km.
On Thursday, US officers mentioned the US was anticipated to announce a new Ukraine security package price roughly $2.2 billion that may embody longer-range missiles in a primary for the nation.
However these is not going to attain the gap Ukraine is asking for out of concern longer-ranging weapons — just like the wanted ATACMS missile — shall be used to hit targets in Russia, which Reznikov refuted.
“I need to emphasize that we promise our companions to not use long-range programs to hit targets on Russian territory, solely on the Ukrainian territory which Russians occupied,” he assured.
Talking of the navy help Ukraine has obtained, Reznikov mentioned that they had been given “nearly every little thing” by way of weapons aside from fighter jets, which he’s sure they may get.
Ukraine isn’t a NATO member, however on this battle has turn out to be a “NATO nation de facto,” he mentioned, receiving weapons, requirements and digital programs. “The one factor left to do is to be accepted within the alliance de jure,” Reznikov added.
