NATO Secretary General announces more heavy weapons for Ukraine "in the near future"
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has spoken in favour of providing more heavy weapons to Ukraine, ahead of further talks in Ramstein on Western military aid to the country, reports DPA and AFP.
"Recent commitments for heavy war equipment are important - and I expect more in the near future," Stoltenberg told German business newspaper Handelsblatt on Sunday.
"We are in a decisive phase of the war. We are facing tough battles. Therefore, it is important to provide Ukraine with the weapons it needs to win and to continue as an independent nation.'' Military support for Ukraine is the fastest path to peace,” he said.
The NATO chief spoke ahead of a new coordination meeting of Western countries providing aid to Ukraine, to be held on January 20 at the US base in Ramstein, Germany.
Kiev has been demanding for months more heavy weapons. Western nations have long been reluctant to supply heavy weapons to Ukraine, citing fears of being drawn into war or provoking Russia, AFP comments.
The range of weapons provided has now expanded. Earlier this month, France, Germany and the United States pledged to send armoured vehicles carrying infantry or reconnaissance tanks - 40 German Marders, 50 American Bradleys and French AMX-10 RCs.
Britain announced on Saturday that it will deliver Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine, becoming the first country to supply Kiev with Western-made heavy tanks. Moscow denounced a decision that would only "intensify" the conflict.
Poland and Finland have expressed their willingness to supply Ukraine with the heavier Leopard 2 tanks.
According to NATO Secretary General, Russian President Vladimir Putin made a mistake by attacking Ukraine. "He overestimated the strength of his own armed forces. We see their missteps, lack of morale, command problems, poor equipment," he said. But the Russians "have demonstrated that they are willing to take heavy casualties to achieve their objective," he added.
