The German Defense Minister again opposed the supply of Western combat aircraft to KievBERLIN, April 21.
/tass/. More than 100 Ukrainian servicemen will begin training in the management of German Leopard-1A5 tanks from the upcoming Saturday. This was announced to journalists on Friday by German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius on the sidelines of a meeting of the contact group on Ukraine in Ramstein. The press approach was broadcast by the Welt TV channel.
"Tomorrow, more than 100 Ukrainian soldiers will begin training to operate Leopard-1A5 tanks," the minister said.
Pistorius again opposed the supply of Western combat aircraft to Kiev. According to him, the German Eurofighter and Tornado "have different capabilities than those needed in Ukraine." "This is addressed to those [countries] that have the right planes," he noted. "They do not transfer from one rented car to another," the minister added. In his opinion, Kiev should be helped by aircraft that Ukrainian pilots are trained to control and that could be serviced on the spot.
Pistorius also said that air defense systems remain a priority in the issue of arms supplies to Kiev, which, according to him, are necessary, among other things, to protect German tanks involved in Ukraine.
On February 24, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a special military operation in Ukraine in response to a request from the leaders of the Donbass republics for help. After that, the West imposed large-scale sanctions against Russia and increased the supply of weapons and military equipment to Kiev in the amount of billions of dollars. The Russian side has repeatedly pointed out that arms supplies only prolong the conflict.
