Kiev calls on western allies to cross 'Red Lines' in weapons supply

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: News Agencies
22 Apr 2023 22:35

In a tweet, Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister expressed Kiev's gratitude for their military help, but he said it was not enough.

Andriy Melnyk, Ukrainian deputy foreign minister October 15, 2022 (social media)

On Saturday, Andrij Melnyk, Ukrainian deputy foreign minister, called on allies to increase the influx of weapons: saying that Kiev requires a tenfold increase in weapons supply and emphasizing that "red lines" should no longer hinder Western countries from supplying Ukraine with sophisticated weapons. He also urged Kiev's allies to dedicate 1% of their GDP to weapons supplies to Ukraine.

"We are thankful to our allies for their military help. But: it is not enough. Ukraine needs 10 times more to finish Russian aggression this year. Thus we call upon our partners to cross all artificial red lines," Melnyk tweeted.

We are thankful to our allies for their military help. But: it is not enough. Ukraine needs 10 times more to finish russian aggression this year. Thus we call upon our partners to cross all artificial red lines & devote 1% of GDP for 🇺🇦weapons deliveries👇🏻https://t.co/SkLyB8RQ6j pic.twitter.com/q62UTa9lSg
— Andrij Melnyk (@MelnykAndrij) April 22, 2023

Yesterday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States is expediting its timeline for providing M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine to deliver training tanks to Germany in the coming weeks.

US media also reported that 31 Abrams tanks would arrive in Germany soon, with training expected to last for 10 weeks, while the tanks themselves are expected to reach Ukraine by fall.

US Defense Department spokesperson Pat Ryder said in late March that the United States would adhere to its "expedited timeline" to deliver the Patriot aid and missile defense system to Ukraine.

The statements came from the United States in light of reports suggesting that the Pentagon wanted to refurbish existing M1A1 Abrams main battle tank hulls instead of going through the process of building new tanks in a bid to get them to Ukraine faster.

Ryder said his country would provide Ukraine with the M1A1 variant of the Abrams tank instead of the M1A2 variant as initially planned in order to expedite delivery of the platform to this fall.

Ryder explained that the M1A2 variant would have taken more than a year to deliver. The US will ensure that Ukrainian troops receive training on the tanks in time for their delivery, Ryder added.