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The US wants to deliver 90 Stryker armored vehicles to Ukraine.
Marian NadlerEditor News
For almost a year now, the West has been supporting Ukraine with a wide variety of weapons, civilian aid and training programs for Ukrainian soldiers. But the Russian war of aggression in the Eastern European country never ends. “Ukraine will get all the help it needs,” US President Joe Biden (80) promised on Saturday.
Ukraine has long been demanding the delivery of battle tanks from its western partners. While Great Britain has already announced that it intends to sell Challenger 2 tanks, Germany is still reluctant to supply Leopard 2 tanks.
At the Ramstein conference in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate on Friday, Germany was unable to make a commitment. However, Ukraine’s allies still want to send some combat equipment. What exactly does the West want to deliver to Ukraine now?
BlickPunkt with Christian Dorer: “Switzerland does not recognize the signs of the times”(01:39)
The United States announced further arms deliveries worth 2.5 billion dollars, the equivalent of 2.3 billion francs. The Americans are not sending any main battle tanks, but they are sending 59 Bradley tanks, 90 Stryker armored vehicles, Avenger air defense systems and thousands of rounds of ammunition. $26.7 billion is the total the United States has spent on military aid to Ukraine since the Russian invasion began.
A few days ago, the British agreed to supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 heavy battle tanks. On Friday, London followed suit: Secretary of Defense Ben Wallace announced the delivery of 600 Brimstone air-to-surface missiles to Ukraine. The missiles are intended for use against armored vehicles and tanks. Compared to the Americans, the British spent even more overall. Military material worth 2.3 billion pounds, the equivalent of 2.6 billion Swiss francs, ended up in the hands of the Ukrainian army.
At the beginning of January, the German government promised Ukraine a Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery and 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles. According to Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (62), seven Gepard anti-aircraft tanks should find their way to the front by February. Ukraine will then have a total of 37 of the Gepard tanks. In the coming weeks, Germany will also provide Ukraine with Iris-T-SLM guided missiles and an entire Iris-T-SLM air defense system by spring. Germany would then be there with 3.3 billion euros in total support for Ukraine. It is also unclear whether Germany will also supply Leopard 2 tanks.
The French have promised Ukraine around 30 AMX-10 RC reconnaissance tanks. However, it is still unclear when these will actually arrive in the country threatened by Putin.
The Poles are offering the Ukrainians anti-aircraft guns and ammunition as part of a new weapons package. Most recently, President Andrzej Duda (50) announced that Poland is also ready to hand over 14 of its more than 200 Leopard tanks. Government spokesman Piotr Müller (33) said the intention was to force “certain behavior” in other Western countries – a clear dig at Germany. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki (54) hinted that Poland would also deliver Leopard tanks if Germany said no.
200 Canadian armored personnel carriers soon arrive in Ukraine. They are part of a military aid package worth the equivalent of around CHF 343 million announced in November. Other pledges include armored vehicles, howitzers, winter clothing, camera drones and ammunition. Overall, Canada receives military aid equivalent to around 920 million Swiss francs.
An Archer artillery system supplied by Sweden is intended to help Ukraine win the fight against Russia. This is a howitzer system. It is still unclear in what quantity the delivery will be made. Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (59) also announced that Sweden plans to hand over 50 CV-90 infantry fighting vehicles and NLAW anti-tank weapons. With this, the Scandinavians are moving away from their stance of not supplying arms to a country at war.
In a joint “cooperation project with the USA and Germany”, the Netherlands is sending Patriot anti-aircraft systems to Ukraine. Specifically, this means: Two rocket launchers and rockets. In addition, the Dutch assume responsibility for the training of Ukrainian soldiers. The country is also providing 100 vehicles purchased from the Czech Republic. They are equipped with anti-aircraft guns.
The Danes donate 19 Caesar howitzers to Ukraine. The howitzers are of French manufacture. The problem: Only a few of the combat equipment have migrated from France to Copenhagen.
At the Ramstein conference, Finland pledged 400 million euros in military aid to the Ukrainians. According to Finnish Defense Minister Mikko Savola (41), the package contains heavy artillery and ammunition. It is the largest delivery from Helsinki to Kyiv to date. Finland had previously pledged weapons worth CHF 190 million to the country attacked by Russia. The Finns, like Poland, declared their readiness to deliver Leopard tanks.
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
Armaments worth 113 million Swiss francs are soon to migrate from Estonia to Ukraine. According to the Estonian government, these include anti-tank weapons and ammunition. The Estonians have provided “a little more than one percent of the gross domestic product” or 370 million francs in total in military aid.
Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, two helicopters and drones are also coming from Latvia. Meanwhile, Lithuania promised Ukraine anti-aircraft guns and two helicopters.