The German government has promised Ukraine 14 Leopard 2s. The training comes as military experts expect the war to intensify. Ukrainians also train on Leopard tanks in Poland. There are already training programs for Ukrainian soldiers under way in Germany on the Marder infantry fighting vehicle. The training is expected to last several weeks. The instruction is mainly to take place at the Bundeswehr's training grounds in the western city of Munster, a spokesperson for the Defense Ministry in Berlin said. The German military has begun training Ukrainian soldiers on the Leopard 2 battle tanks. "What is clear, and all the military experts are saying this, is that Ukraine cannot win this war without the air force and without the Navy," he said. The longer the fighter jet debate is delayed, the harder the fight is for Ukrainian forces on the front lines, he added. "Unfortunately, time is playing against us," Melnyk said. does not draw red lines now (.), but responds to what is important for important for us," Melnyk stressed, adding, "The time factor is crucial." "We hope that the Germans, that the German government. Ukraine calls for faster debate on fighter jets deliveriesĪndrij Melnyk, Ukraine's deputy foreign minister, told German broadcaster ARD that Kyiv believes that a decision from its Western allies to deliver fighter jets "is only a matter of time." Here are some of the other notable developments concerning the war in Ukraine on Monday, February 13. "We see how they are sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities." "We see no sign whatsoever that President Putin is preparing for peace," he said. (.) I think this should be a military decision."Īsked about a possible Russian offensive in Ukraine, NATO's Stoltenberg said it had already begun. "When you talk to military experts, they say that when you fight a war like this, you need a combination of several weapons. "Instead of putting red lines, I think we have to see what is needed," Heusgen said. The MSC's chairman Christoph Heusgen, formerly Chancellor Angela Merkel's foreign and security policy advisor, told DW ahead of the event that in his opinion it might be wise for politicians to ask for military advice on the matter. The issue is also liable to be raised at this week's Munich Security Conference. Kyiv has been calling for western-built combat aircraft on and off since the conflict began, and with renewed intensity since the most recent agreement on sending battle tanks was approved just a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, at NATO's Brussels headquarters, Stoltenberg also touched on several other topics related to the war.Īmong other things, he said he expected the possible supply of NATO aircraft to Ukraine to be a topic of discussion when the alliance's defense ministers assemble on Tuesday. To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In Ukraine, both parties running out of bullets "We've had reports of Pakistani-made Soviet-caliber munitions heading this way, of US troops being asked to send munitions that they had stockpiled in South Korea to Europe for Ukraine." "Right now you're seeing Ukraine and its allies scrambling around the world - looking as far afield as Pakistan and South Korea for artillery munitions," Connolly said. "I've met commanders of howitzers, of artillery pieces, who've told me that they don't know how long they can keep on doing their job, if they will be forced to withdraw and move away from positions and wait for more artillery," Connolly said. Stoltenberg also said NATO members would "step up and sustain" support for Ukraine, saying: "NATO stands with Ukraine for as long as it takes."Īmmunition resupply has been a concern for Ukrainian and Russian forces alike for months.ĭW's correspondent in Kyiv, Nick Connolly, said he had spoken with Ukrainian commanders who said they were having to make "very tough choices" about ammunition usage. (.) So we need to ramp up new production and invest in our production capacities." This puts our defense industries under strain. "The current rate of Ukraine's ammunition expenditure is many times higher than our current production rates. "The war in Ukraine is consuming an enormous amount of ammunition," Stoltenberg said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters on Monday that the transatlantic military alliance would be increasing its targets for ammunition stockpiles, amid rapid depletion of its inventory in the war in Ukraine.
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