“There is no alternative”
Zelenskyj wants to continue fighting for “Leopard” tanks
01/20/2023, 10:17 p.m
The focus of the Ramstein conference is the possible delivery of German “Leopard” tanks to Ukraine. However, the decision is still pending. The Ukrainian President Selenskyj is nevertheless optimistic.
After the Ukraine conference in Ramstein, Germany, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to continue fighting in Kyiv for the delivery of German “Leopard 2” tanks to his country. During the talks, he heard a lot of understanding for the needs of Ukraine attacked by Russia, Zelensky said in his video message distributed every evening in Kyiv. “Yes, we will still have to fight for the supply of modern tanks, but every day we make it more obvious that there is no alternative to choosing tanks,” he said.
At the conference at the US Air Force Base, no decision was made on the delivery of main battle tanks. Despite this, Zelenskyy was optimistic that his country would get the tanks. Missiles with longer ranges are also needed to liberate Ukrainian areas, he said. Not everything that was discussed in Ramstein was intended for the public, Zelenskyj said. The bottom line, however, is a strengthening of Ukrainian resistance to Russian aggression. “The partners stand firm in their stance of supporting Ukraine for as long as it takes for our victory.”
It has already been possible to increase the effectiveness of the artillery. Armored vehicles and several hundred combat vehicles have also been added to the country’s arsenal. Ukraine recorded successes with multiple rocket launchers and anti-aircraft defenses. In particular, Zelenskyy highlighted one of the “biggest defense packages” of the United States, which understood that “freedom” should not be lost. Many EU countries have also increased their support.
“Every agreement must be implemented as quickly as possible – for our defense,” emphasized the President. Zelenskyi also informed about a new phone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who repeatedly brings himself into play as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia for possible peace negotiations. Zelenskyy thanked Erdogan for supporting Ukraine’s security vision. He did not give details.