‘Difficult’ to eject Russian troops – US

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/liveblog/2023/1/20/russia-ukraine-live-news-west-to-decide-on-fresh-arms-pledges?fbclid=IwAR2nZiLf124X-3-AUVjiitVU8ky6CnTfQ5IX-m1qiMVRJ_e6l9mjZn93qwg&sf174554782=1&sf174539940=1

Milley expressed strong doubt that Ukraine would succeed in driving Russian troops out its territory this year [Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters]
By Edna Mohamed
Published On 20 Jan 2023
20 Jan 2023
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This live blog is now closed. Thank you for joining us. These were the updates on the Russia-Ukraine war for Friday, January 20:

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/01/20/us-kicks-off-crucial-meeting-over-military-aid-for-ukraine-with-25-billion-package/


Ukraine is unlikely to be able to eject Russia from its territory this year, US military figures warned on Friday, as a crucial meeting of allies failed to resolve divisions over providing advanced battle tanks for Kyiv's forces.

Defence ministers discussed sending more military aid to the embattled country, as the war with Russia drags on.

At the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin listed a series of pledges from countries to deliver defensive weapons and hardware, but the Leopard 2 tanks desired by Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were absent.

“We can all do more” for Ukraine, he said, going on to say that Ukrainian forces were expected to mount a counter-offensive against Russia this spring and calling on allies to step up arms shipments to help Kyiv prepare.

“We’re really focused on making sure that Ukraine has a capability that it needs to be successful right now so we have a window of opportunity here between now and the spring, whenever they commence their counter-offensive,” he said.

Germany would need to consent for the tanks to be given to Ukraine, which is not a member of Nato. Despite pleas from Ukrainian officials and mounting pressure, Germany has so far resisted agreeing to quickly supply Leopard 2 tanks to Kyiv, or at least clear the way for other countries, such as Poland, to deliver them from their own stocks.

Mr Austin maintained that Germany was a reliable ally and it would continue to exercise leadership.

“They are a reliable ally, they've been that way for a very, very long time and I truly believe that they'll continue to be a reliable ally going forward,” Mr Austin said.

A static front line
At the high-level defence meeting, US Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen Mark Milley expressed strong doubt that Ukraine would succeed in driving Russian troops out of its territory this year. He said the war had become a static front line.

“From a military standpoint, I still maintain that for this year it would be very, very difficult to militarily eject the Russian forces from all, every inch of … Russian-occupied Ukraine,” he said.

Mariusz Blaszczak, Defence Minister of Poland, which has pledged a company of 14 Leopard tanks on condition that other countries also supply them, said earlier that 15 countries that have the German-made Leopards discussed the issue but no decisions were made.

He called the meeting a “good discussion among allies” and said the matter would be discussed again at future talks.

Mr Blaszczak's comments came a day after Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki warned that he might press forward without Germany’s green light.

Though the tank debate appeared unresolved, Germany’s new defence minister suggested the issue was moving forward.

Borius Pistorius said that his government was “carefully balancing pros and cons”.

“I'm sure there will be a decision in the short term,” said Mr Pistorius, who did not rule out the delivery of German battle tanks to Ukraine in the future. “Nothing is ever for ever,” he said.


Mr Pistorius remained evasive about the reasons behind Germany's hesitations.

“We don't fear anything,” he said. “We have [a] responsibility for our population in Germany and Europe.”

He said that it was not up to him to decide whether other countries such as Poland or Finland could send Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine and denied reports that Germany was unilaterally blocking the delivery.

“To be frank, I’m not allowed to grant that licence because it’s the role of another ministry and the chancellor,” he said.

Mr Pistorius said the German government would be ready to move quickly on the issue if there was consensus among allies.

Russia and Ukraine conflict latest — in pictures

Earlier in the day, he said he was “not aware” of a package deal reported by several media outlets, claiming that Germany would only send its Leopard 2s to Ukraine if the US also sent its M1 Abrams.

Defence experts previously told The National that Abrams are too difficult to operate and run on specialised fuel.

Germany’s Leopard 2 is the only European-made tank that has the capacity to be scaled up easily and enable large-scale training. There is also easy access to ammunition and spare parts.

Mr Pistorius rejected claims that Germany was letting down Ukraine by not approving the transfer of Leopard 2s, and said that “we will support Ukraine [as] long as it’s necessary and the war is over”.

'Hundreds of thank yous are not hundreds of tanks'
Speaking to defence officials on Friday morning via video-link, Ukraine's President made an impassioned plea for more Western battle tanks.

Mr Zelenskyy thanked allies for their latest military assistance packages, but said his country needs tanks to repel Russian invaders.

Make the meeting a “Ramstein of tanks”, Mr Zelenskyy told the defence chiefs, calling for future gatherings to “go down in history as a Ramstein of F16s and long-range missiles”.

“I can thank you hundreds of times, but hundreds of thank yous are not hundreds of tanks. I can’t use words instead of guns that are needed against Russian artillery.

“Every unit helps to save our people from terror, but time remains a Russian ally.

“We have to speed up.”

https://www.thenationalnews.com/world/uk-news/2023/01/20/us-kicks-off-crucial-meeting-over-military-aid-for-ukraine-with-25-billion-package/

CNN International and BBC World Service would never ever report this. They will keep lying to world how Ukraine is already winning 🤣🤣🤣🤣

Clown USA clowns come and eat

I like people who speak the truth to power. This is a bitter truth that some politicians and USA fans in the West and the world do not want to hear.
Putin can't afford to lose that war with a neighbouring country.

Ukraine is winning and patriot systems works very hard, never mess with Putin again I repeat Never mess up with Russia.

God bless putin God bless mother Russia.

This war would have ended. the US are prolonging the war because of the money they are making from their shitty tanks and patriot shit defence system they are selling to foolkraine.

Putin once said, "am not buffing, " meaning he is not "joking ".

Kingsnairaland:
Putin once said, "am not buffing, " meaning he is not "joking ".

Putin, the #1 leader in the world...
Baba no dey talk too much, action always follow...

Allison012:
This war would have ended. the US are prolonging the war because of the money they are making from their shitty tanks and patriot shit defence system they are selling to foolkraine.

exactly.

BentizilL:

Putin, the #1 leader in the world...
Baba no dey talk too much, action always follow...

That's what I like.
It's very difficult not to respect that type of person.

Spanish leader calls for negotiations with Putin to end Ukraine war

"It is important that we maintain contact with Putin as well," Sánchez said in Davos. "I strongly advocate, for example, that the French government and the German government... take the lead here," he told broadcaster CNN.

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Russia will defeat all it enemies