The United Kingdom and 25 other countries agreed to send Ukraine “humanitarian aid or lethal aid” to deal with the Russian invasion, and are now advancing in the coordination of how that shipment would be, said today the secretary of the British Armed Forces, James Heappey .
Speaking to the BBC, Heappey said that a way is being sought to put this military aid “in the hands of Ukraine”, without elaborating on details.
Meanwhile, Germany today broke with its traditional policy of not exporting lethal weapons to conflict zones and authorized the supply of 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to Ukraine.
“The Russian attack marks a turning point. It is our duty to do everything we can to help Ukraine defend itself from #Putin’s invading army. That is why we are supplying 1000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to our friends in the #Ukraine “. announced the head of the German government, the socialist Olaf Scholz, on his Twitter account.
Kiev had been demanding the delivery of lethal weapons and other weapons to Berlin for months, but Scholtz had been reluctant and had only offered to send 5,000 helmets, which were delivered this Saturday to the Ukrainian armed forces.
“After Russia’s brazen attack, Ukraine must be able to defend itself. It has an inalienable right to self-defense. Therefore, the government also supports Ukraine to equip it with the material it urgently needs,” they said in a joint statement today. German Minister of Foreign Affairs, Annalena Baerbock, and the Vice Chancellor and Minister of Economy and Climate Protection, Robert Habeck.
According to the German Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, the export of 14 armored vehicles with special protection to Ukraine, which will be used for personal protection and, if necessary, for evacuation, was also approved today.
In addition, up to 10,000 tons of fuel will be delivered to Ukraine via Poland, and tabloid Bild reported that Estonia has been given permission to deliver old howitzers from the former German Democratic Republic to Kiev.
With this change in policy, Germany joins the doctrine of military assistance to Ukraine, to which several European countries have joined, such as Sweden, Belgium, Slovakia, the Czech Republic or Poland.
The change could mean a rapid increase in European military assistance to Kiev because much of the continent’s weapons and ammunition are made in Germany, giving Berlin legal control over their transfer.
In a video that he published on his networks in the morning in Kiev, President Volodimir Zelensky had stated that “weapons and equipment” from the allies “are on their way to Ukraine.”
“The anti-war coalition is working,” added the president, who had complained just 24 hours earlier that the region was “leaving the locals alone.”
It was also learned today that a shipment of ammunition for “strictly defensive” use sent by Poland arrived in Ukraine, as revealed by the Polish Defense Minister, Mariusz Blaszczak, on his Twitter account.
Heappey, meanwhile, considered it likely that the Russian government is “reflecting” on the stiff resistance that its forces are encountering and admitted that there is a risk that more intense bombing will be used in Ukraine to compensate.
The minister praised the UK’s “diplomatic efforts” to persuade other countries to agree to remove Russia from the Swift international bank transfer system.
“It is not a unilateral decision that the UK can take, but our position is clear,” he said.
Also from London, Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent a message to the Russian population, in a message recorded precisely in Russian.
“I don’t think this war is being waged in your name,” he said, adding, this time in Ukrainian: “Glory to Ukraine.”
The head of the Government uploaded the video, recorded at the official Downing Street residence, to his Twitter account
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