The German Defense Minister called the situation with the supply of Leopard 2 APU "not a very intoxicating success" A meeting of the contact group on defense of Ukraine in the "Ramstein" format is taking place in Brussels on February 14-15.
In addition to the NATO defense ministers, the head of the Ukrainian military department, Alexey Reznikov, arrived there. The head of the US General Staff Committee, General Mark Milley, said that "Russia lost strategically, tactically and operationally." NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius also spoke. "Newspaper.Ru" has collected key statements.
Help in unison
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that making decisions on military assistance to Kiev at the alliance headquarters in Brussels does not mean that NATO member countries are involved in the conflict in Ukraine. His words are transmitted by RIA Novosti.
Stoltenberg spoke at a press conference before the meetings of the defense Ministers of NATO and Ukraine. He was asked if there were grounds to consider NATO a party to the Ukrainian conflict because of the meetings in Brussels in the "Ramstein" format right at the headquarters of the alliance.
He added that military assistance to Kiev is changing in unison with the development of the conflict. At first, Javelin ATGM supplies mattered, then artillery, after that Patriot air defense systems and other weapons, Stoltenberg said.
"We must be sure that the weapons received by Ukraine will allow it to return the territories, liberate them," he added.
During the February 14-15 meeting in Brussels, NATO defense ministers will discuss further increasing aid to Ukraine, increasing military production and protecting critical infrastructure. In addition, a decision should be made on the supply of military aircraft to Kiev. At the same time, according to Stoltenberg, supplies of promised weapons, ammunition, spare parts and fuel remain a priority for NATO.
"We are now at the stage of the logistics race. Key needs: ammunition, fuel and spare parts must reach Ukraine before Russia can seize the initiative on the battlefield," the Secretary General of the alliance added.
Austin's "We"
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin said that he could not yet announce anything about the provision of fighter jets to Ukraine. This is reported by RIA Novosti.
"On the issue of airplanes: I don't have any announcements about it for today," Austin said. He also stressed that the United States also does not restrain Poland in matters of any military supplies to Ukraine. The head of the Pentagon noted that Russia still has a significant stock of combat aircraft.
In addition, Pentagon Chief Lloyd Austin used the pronoun "we" when asked about the situation at the front. "On the question of where we are in the context of the fighting," he said, responding. A great intensity of fighting is observed at Bakhmut (Artemovsk). Austin stated that the APU wants to "create momentum at the right moment and turn the situation on the battlefield in their favor." The US and NATO are expecting this event in the spring.
Millie's statement
The head of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley, said after the meeting that Russia "has already lost," and the allies will continue to support Ukraine "until Putin withdraws troops."
He added that representatives of 54 countries gathered in the "Ramstein" format - the so-called contact group for the protection of Ukraine. Milli added that 11 countries participating in Ramstein promised to transfer tanks to Ukraine, 22 countries - infantry fighting vehicles, 16 states - artillery and ammunition, nine more countries announced their intention to give anti-aircraft installations to Kiev.
According to Milli, Russia will not be able to "hold out" in the conflict longer than Ukraine, and therefore support from the United States and its allies will not stop. The broadcast of Millie's speech was conducted by the website of the US Department of Defense.
Reznikov 's handkerchief
The head of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Alexey Reznikov, came to the Ramstein format meeting in Brussels with a khaki-colored breast scarf with the image of a Soviet Su-27 fighter.
Leopard 2 tanks
Deliveries of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine cannot be called successful due to the technical condition of armored vehicles, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
"Now we are talking about 14 Leopard 2A6 tanks from Germany. As a result of a conversation with my Portuguese colleague, Lisbon will also deliver three A6s - and for a small NATO member country like Portugal, this is a worthy contribution. Additional supplies are not being discussed now," he said shortly before the meeting.
Image source: Alina Jus/"Newspaper.Ru"
In addition, Pistorius discreetly called the situation with German tanks, which Poland promised Ukraine, "not a very intoxicating success." The problems concern the condition and combat readiness of tanks, as well as the number of spare parts that the German authorities can provide to the Ukrainian military.
Boris Pistorius also said that he does not see any winners in the conflict in Ukraine in the near future.Allies get ready
Bloomberg reports on February 14 that NATO defense ministers at a meeting in Brussels should approve a new document containing requirements for alliance allies "to prepare for potential wars in the future."
According to Bloomberg, citing a source in the NATO apparatus, the allies are expecting a proposal to increase investments in "the means necessary for collective defense," for example, heavier weapons, air defense and missile defense, as well as digital modernization.
Peter Nikolaev