War in Ukraine: Germany stood out after decision not to supply Leopard tanks

This Saturday, Germany stands out with its position in the context of the war in Ukraine. It was decided not to deliver heavy tanks yet.

In a rare public criticism, the Baltic foreign ministers (Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia) this Saturday morning called on Berlin, the capital of Germany, to “immediately deliver Leopard tanks to Ukraine”, citing Germany’s “feature of responsibility”. first European power.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday evening deplored Germany’s cautious stance, saying he was convinced its Western allies “have no other choice” than to put tanks in its army.

Direct criticism of Berlin also came from Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham after a visit to the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Friday. “I’ve had enough shitty show… who and when will send tanks,” he criticized on Twitter. “To the Germans: send tanks to Ukraine because they need them (…) Biden administrations: send American tanks so that others will follow our example.”

In Ramstein, Germany, about fifty represented countries on Friday did not agree to send heavy tanks to Kyiv, despite repeated requests from Ukraine. However, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, quoted by the Voice of America media, indicated that Ukrainian soldiers would soon be training on Leopards in Poland: “We will start with this, and then we will see. »

US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, for his part, hesitated, stressing that there is always a “window of opportunity until spring” for Western tank deliveries.

In Russia’s view, sending such devices will not change anything on the ground, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, accusing the West of actually maintaining the “illusion” of a possible Ukrainian victory. But according to many experts, modern heavy tanks would be a real advantage for Kyiv in the battles in eastern Ukraine, where Russia, after heavy setbacks, goes back on the offensive in the fall.

Acceleration of fighting in the Zaporozhye region

In Kyiv, Volodymyr Zelensky and Olena Zelenskaya, as well as many Ukrainian leaders, paid tribute this Saturday morning to Interior Minister Denis Monastyrsky, who died on Wednesday in a helicopter crash along with 13 others. The President and his wife were dressed in black and brought flowers. Seven coffins carried by men in military uniform were brought into the building where the ceremony took place, located very close to Maidan Square in the very center of Kyiv. Each had a blue-and-yellow Ukrainian flag, and next to it were black-and-white portraits of the dead. In the hall, family members of the victims stood side by side, some in tears. Outside, the Ukrainian and European flags were at half mast. A large number of policemen were visible around the building.

Elsewhere in Ukraine, Russian occupation authorities reported on Friday a “dramatic increase in intensity” of clashes in the Zaporozhye region “across the entire front line.” “This has never happened before,” said the head of the regional occupation authorities. In its morning bulletin on Saturday, the Ukrainian army said it had come under “shelling” in a dozen villages in the region the day before. The line of contact between the Ukrainian and Russian armies in this southern region remained virtually unchanged for several months, and there were no major battles here, in contrast to the regions of Kherson (south) until November and Donetsk (east), the current epicenter of clashes.