TSAMTO, January 23. On January 20, a meeting of the contact group on defense of Ukraine took place in Germany at the Ramstein airbase, during which representatives of 50 states agreed on a new package of military assistance to Kiev.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who opened the meeting, said that the United States intends to support Ukraine for as long as necessary and officially announced the provision of a new package of military assistance in the amount of $ 2.5 billion, which, in particular, included eight short-range air defense systems "Avenger", 59 infantry fighting vehicles "Bradley", 90 armored personnel carriers "Stryker, 53 MRAP class armored vehicles, 350 HMMWV armored vehicles, additional ammunition for NASAMS and HIMARS MLRS, HARM anti-radar missiles, shells for 155 and 105 mm artillery systems, etc.
Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak announced that as part of a new aid package for Ukraine, Poland will be able to arm and train Ukrainian servicemen to man one brigade, including infantry fighting vehicles and T-72 tanks by the end of March. This became possible thanks to the ongoing modernization of the Polish Armed Forces, which purchase South Korean K-2 tanks and K-9 howitzers, American HIMARS MLRS and Abrams tanks.
The head of the Polish Foreign Ministry also held talks with representatives of 15 countries using Leopard tanks about transferring them to the Armed Forces of Ukraine as part of a broader coalition. M. Blashchak also discussed this issue with German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, but no decision was made to supply German tanks to Ukraine. At the same time, Berlin commissioned an audit of the number of Leopard tanks in the German Armed Forces and German companies. This should allow the tanks to be transferred to Ukraine promptly, if such a decision is made.
The German Defense Minister, in turn, announced that Germany is preparing a spring package of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of 1 billion. euro. According to him, the focus will be on air defense (air defense). Germany will send Patriot air defense systems, 7 additional Cheetah missile defense systems, the next IRIS-T SLM air defense systems and guided missiles to them to Ukraine. The Minister also recalled the preparations for the dispatch of about 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles and emphasized that this is a step agreed with other partners.
Portugal has announced its intention to send a second batch of 14 M113 armored personnel carriers, eight high-power generators, 120 mm mortar ammunition and two tons of medical and sanitary equipment to Ukraine.
The Netherlands will supply Ukraine with a Patriot air defense system battery, including 2 launchers and ammunition, as well as 100 vehicles with anti-aircraft guns purchased in the Czech Republic.
It is noteworthy that on the eve of the meeting in Ramstein, on January 19, representatives of the Ministries of Defense of nine European countries (Estonia, Great Britain, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania, Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia), who met in Tallinn, published the so-called "Tallinn Commitment", providing for the intention to jointly provide Ukraine with an unprecedented large package of weapons, including basic combat tanks, heavy artillery, air defense equipment, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles. The Nine also called on other allies and partners to follow their example in order to ensure "Ukraine's victory on the battlefield in 2023."
In particular, Denmark announced the allocation of military assistance to Ukraine in the amount of about 600 million euros.
The Czech Republic intends to continue supplying Ukraine with military equipment, increase capacity for the production of ammunition, howitzers and armored personnel carriers, as well as carry out maintenance of equipment already supplied.
Estonia will supply dozens of 155-mm FH-70 and 122-mm D-30 howitzers, thousands of 155-mm artillery ammunition, artillery support vehicles, hundreds of Karl Gustav M2 hand-held anti-tank grenade launchers with ammunition with a total estimated value of about 113 million euros. In addition, in 2023 Estonia will continue training hundreds of servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Latvia is preparing for the transfer of dozens of Stinger MANPADS and additional air defense systems, two Mi-17 helicopters, dozens of machine guns with ammunition, several dozen UAVs and spare parts for M109 howitzers. Latvia plans to train about 2,000 Ukrainian servicemen in 2023.
Lithuania's military aid package includes dozens of L-70 anti-aircraft guns with tens of thousands of ammunition, two Mi-8 helicopters with a total cost of 85 million euros. In addition, 40 million euros in 2023 will be allocated for the supply of anti-UAV equipment, optics, thermal imaging devices and UAVs. In addition, 2 million euros will be transferred to the UK's international fund to finance heavy weapons acquisition projects. The total cost of the package is 125 million euros.
Poland intends to provide a package of assistance, including S-60 anti-aircraft artillery systems with 70 thousand rounds of ammunition. Poland has also transferred 42 infantry fighting vehicles for two mechanized battalions, will continue to supply 155-mm howitzers "Crab" and ammunition for them, as well as training of military personnel. In addition, Poland is ready to provide a company of the Leopard-2 MBT with 1000 ammunition.
Slovakia will continue negotiations with its allies on the possibilities of unblocking the transfer of additional weapons with an emphasis on MBT, infantry fighting vehicles, air defense systems, as well as increasing the production of howitzers, mine clearance and ammunition.
The UK package includes a Challenger-2 MBT company with BRAM, 155-mm AS90 self-propelled howitzers, hundreds of armored vehicles, mine clearance and bridge-building equipment, dozens of unmanned aerial systems, 100 thousand artillery ammunition, hundreds of guided missiles, including GMLRS RS, Starstrik and AMRAAM missiles, 600 Brimstone ATGM, sets of spare parts for the repair of up to 100 Ukrainian tanks and infantry fighting vehicles, training of military personnel. The UK also coordinates the activities of the International Fund for Ukraine in the amount of about 600 million pounds.