There was no decision on Leopard tanks at the Ramstein meeting from the German side. In the course of the summit, however, several countries announced concrete help for Ukraine. Who wants to deliver which heavy weapons to the country attacked by Russia?
Western allies, led by the USA, have been discussing further arms deliveries to Ukraine at the Ramstein US base in Rhineland-Palatinate. Several nations announced support on Friday – sometimes shortly before the meeting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj put the pressure on. “The war started by Russia does not allow for delays,” said Zelenskyy. But who is delivering what?
To support the defense against the Russian attack, Germany wants to supply Ukraine with additional weapons and equipment worth one billion euros. These include
However, individual deliveries that Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) mentioned in Ramstein had already been announced at an earlier point in time.
Shortly before the Ramstein meeting, the US government announced the second largest single package to date for Ukraine. It includes, among other things
The country wants to deliver 19 artillery pieces. The Caesar howitzers ordered in France are to be handed over to Ukraine, as Defense Minister Jakob Ellemann-Jensen announced on Thursday. These are truck-mounted Caesar 8X8 guns with a caliber of 155 millimeters. According to Danish radio, Denmark is scheduled to receive them from the French producer in the course of the next six months – Ellemann-Jensen could not and did not want to say exactly when they will be passed on afterwards.
Russia’s neighboring country is donating more to Ukraine
France wants to deliver “light battle tanks” to Ukraine. The French head of state Emmanuel Macron had promised his Ukrainian colleague Zelenskyj, as the Élysée Palace announced in early January. It should be the reconnaissance tank AMX-10 RC. On Friday, Macron did not comment on requests to deliver the French Leclerc tank to Ukraine.
The Baltic EU and NATO country wants to deliver dozens of L70 anti-aircraft guns, ammunition and two Mi-8 helicopters to Kyiv. The new aid package has a total value of around 125 million euros, Defense Minister Arvydas Anusauskas wrote on Twitter. He did not initially provide any further information on the time of delivery. According to the BNS agency, Lithuania had acquired the weapons from Sweden in 2000.
The Netherlands also want to make the Patriot air defense system available to Ukraine. That’s what Prime Minister Mark Rutte said during a visit to US President Joe Biden in Washington. It is important that the Netherlands are involved in the delivery of the Patriots, said Rutte. He also discussed this with Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday.
A week before the Ramstein meeting, President Andrzej Duda announced that he would provide the Ukrainians with Leopard-type main battle tanks for a company as part of a coalition. However, because the Leopard tanks are produced in Germany, the federal government must approve any transfer from other countries in advance. Poland is now considering the delivery without permission from Germany, as Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki indicated on Wednesday. Germany will continue to be urged to agree quickly.
Sweden wants to provide Ukraine with the Archer artillery system and dozens of infantry fighting vehicles. The Swedish Armed Forces were given the order to prepare the delivery, Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson announced on Thursday. This is a high-precision system that can be moved and fired quickly on wheels. Ukraine is also to receive up to 50 Swedish-made CV 90 (Stridsfordon 90) armored personnel carriers, as well as NLAW anti-tank weapons.
