United States and allies promised new arms packages to Ukraine at a defence conference in Ramstein, Germany.
The United States is ready to move „heaven and earth” to bolster Ukraine’s defence, said US defence secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday at the US army base in Ramstein, in south-east Germany, where Washington met its allies to discuss providing more substantial support to Ukraine. 40 countries, including NATO members, met to discuss supplying additional capabilities to the Ukrainian army.
Germany was initially opposed to the delivery of heavy weapons in the early days of the war, coming under criticism from some European leaders. Berlin now announced it will deliver 30 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, a radical change that may have an impact on other decisions as well. Moreover, Germany will contribute to the training of Ukrainian soldiers. The UK also announced it will send new rocket models, France will send high-precision artillery and The Netherlands will send armoured hawitzers.
Romania was represented in Ramstein by its defence minister Vasile Dîncu, who also briefly met his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov. According to a statement from the Romanian defence ministry, Dîncu conveyed his country’s full solidarity with Ukraine and its readiness to maintain constant and open dialogue whenever necessary. He also presented concrete ways of supporting Ukraine and highlighted the extremely important role of the humanitarian logistical hub in Suceava, in northern Romania, which has been efficiently used by a number of states. Speaking about the evolution of the conflict, Vasile Dîncu reiterated Romania’s support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders, condemned the atrocities committed in Ukrainian towns and villages and highlighted the urgent need for the unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors.
The site chosen for the meeting on Ukraine, the air base in Ramstein, is most likely not a coincidence. Apart from its logistical advantages, it also has a symbolic effect in the war in Ukraine, being considered NATO’s central point in this war. On the ground, Russia intensified shelling of Ukraine’s railroad infrastructure to prevent deliveries of western weapons. Moscow says it seized control of Kherson region, in the south of the country. The shelling of the Azovstal steel plant also continued. Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov accused NATO of waging a proxy war with Russia and said the weapons supplied by the West to Ukraine will become legitimate targets.
(Mihai Pelin, Radio Romania international)
