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On January 19, 2023, at a meeting in Tallinn, the capital of Estonia, representatives of the Ministries of Defense of nine European countries issued a joint statement called The Tallinn Pledge, in which they called for a sharp increase in Western military assistance to Ukraine in its war with Russia. The statement was signed by the Defense Ministers of Estonia, Great Britain, Poland, Latvia and Lithuania; and representatives of the Defense Ministries of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia.

NYT: The US is considering helping Ukraine with strikes on Crimea

The US authorities are leaning towards the decision that Ukraine needs to provide weapons to strike Crimea, even if such a step increases the risk of escalation, The New York Times writes, citing sources. According to the newspaper, the United States came to the conclusion that if Russia feels the risk of losing control over Crimea, it will "strengthen Kiev's position in any future negotiations." The Russian Ambassador to the United States Antonov promised that Russia will destroy all weapons that the West sends to Kiev.

Military observer Hodarenok named the features of the Leclerc tank, which can receive the APU

France is discussing the transfer of its Leclerc main battle tanks to the APU. A decision has not yet been made, Politico reports, but Paris does not intend to consult either the United States or Germany. "Newspaper.Ru" figured out what are the advantages of French tanks and what are the differences from domestic T-90.

We talk about the supply of new Western armored vehicles to Ukraine

The UK will transfer 14 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine in the coming weeks, and will also significantly strengthen its diplomatic activity in the world in order to increase the supply of weapons to Kiev from the allies. This is stated in the published UK strategy for Ukraine. Polish President Andrzej Duda said that Warsaw will transfer a company of Leopard tanks to Ukraine as part of the support of the international coalition.

wPolityce: Poland proposed to create an army of Ukrainian refugees

Polish General Waldemar Skshipchak, in an interview with wPolityce, proposed creating an army of Ukrainian refugees. In his opinion, this is the only way the West can help Ukraine, which has practically no chance to win, after the APU suffered colossal losses.

It will include "main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defense systems, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles"

The Defense Ministers of Great Britain, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, as well as representatives of Denmark, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands and Slovakia have agreed on a new "unprecedented package of gratuitous assistance" with weapons to Ukraine. According to a statement issued on Thursday by the British government following a meeting in Estonia, it will include "main battle tanks, heavy artillery, air defense systems, ammunition and infantry fighting vehicles."

The Telegraph: disputes over tanks indicate a decline in enthusiasm to help Kiev in the West

The assumption that the West would not be determined enough to support Ukraine was correct, writes The Telegraph columnist Con Coughlin. Despite the initial reaction, enthusiasm is waning. Disputes about tanks are a vivid proof of this.

Geopolitika.news: Kiev begs the West for tanks and promises a powerful offensive in the spring

Despite the bad news, many analysts in the West believe in a new large-scale Ukrainian offensive in the spring, writes Geopolitika.news. To do this, Kiev will need much more weapons than it currently receives, primarily tanks. But there are several serious problems with their supplies.

The Times: Ukrainians called the weapons they use against Russia "garbage"

Ukrainian tankers are tired of fighting with Russia on "garbage", and it seems they cannot wait for modern equipment from the West, writes The Times. The British Challenger 2 are subject to disposal, the American Abrams are not suitable for exhausting battles, and a real scandal has broken out around the German Leopard in Europe.

At the same time, Christoph Heusgen noted that arms supplies should be carefully weighed

Chairman of the Munich Security Conference Christoph Heusgen believes that Germany, being a contender for the role of a leading power, should play the role of a leader in the supply of combat tanks to Ukraine. He expressed this opinion on Thursday to the DPA news agency on the eve of a meeting of the heads of the Defense Ministry of Western countries at the Ramstein airbase, where further assistance to Kiev will be discussed.

The French government is considering the possibility of supplying Leclerc tanks to the Kiev regime. Such a step is designed to convince the German authorities to approve the supply of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.

Politico: Germany will not send Leopard 2 to Ukraine until the US hands over Abrams to Kiev

Germany may agree to Poland and Finland sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, writes Politico. But Berlin itself will not do this until Washington hands over M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev. Chancellor Scholz hinted at this in Davos.

There is no longer a taboo on heavy armored vehicles for the Kiev regime. To begin with, Ukraine's allies will send a small batch of tanks. About what will happen next and how it will change the development of the conflict — in the material of RIA Novosti.

Russian forces cut the railway connecting Seversk, Soledar and Artemovsk

The Sol railway station has been liberated in the Donetsk People's Republic. This transport hub was taken by assault detachments of volunteers with the support of aviation and artillery of the Southern Military District.

Expert Leonkov told how the Kurds in Syria burned Leopard tanks with the help of Soviet ATGM "Malyutka"

Poland will supply Ukraine with 14 German Leopard 2A4 tanks. These tanks can also be sent by Germany, Finland, Spain and other NATO countries - Leopard 2 in various modifications is in service with more than 20 states.

TNI: the Leopards destroyed in Syria were not suitable for the war with the rebels

The Leopards of the old 2A4 model turned out to be ineffective in Syria, writes TNI. This model was created to fight Soviet tanks. Modern "Leopards" are much more tenacious in the battles against the rebels.

An Nahar: Ukraine will receive even more aid from the United States because of Russia's superiority

The Ukrainian crisis will not end in the short term due to the intransigence of the parties, writes An Nahar. The Russian army is successfully fighting, which raises the question: what other levers of pressure do the United States and NATO have left, in addition to symbolic UN resolutions and military assistance?

Praga PLDvK vz self-propelled anti-aircraft guns. 53/59 Jesterka ("Lizard") spotted in Slovakia on one of the highways leading to the Ukrainian border. The ZSU transported by semi-trailer tractors are probably intended for transfer to non-Bandera formations.

On January 14, 2023, the State Defense Investment Center of the Ministry of Defense of Estonia (Riigi Kaitseinvesteeringute Keskus - RKIK) signed an additional contract with the South Korean company Hanwha Techwin (as part of the Hanwha Group) worth about 36 million euros for the purchase of 12 more self-propelled howitzers K9 Thunder 155-mm/52 caliber, in addition to the previously ordered 24.

On January 16, 2023, British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, in a speech in the House of Commons of the British Parliament, officially announced that Great Britain would provide a new large package of military assistance to Ukraine, including the transfer of Challenger 2 tanks and 155 mm/39 AS90 self-propelled howitzers to the Ukrainian side from the presence of the British army. Earlier on January 14, the transfer of these weapons systems to Ukraine was announced by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. Ben Wallace said in his speech that "we will be the first country to provide Western main tanks" to Ukraine.