In an interview with the Canadian CBC TV channel, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said that western tanks will be delivered and made combat-ready by March this year.

The Military official expressed optimism on the situation despite him admitting it would take some time to receive them and train military staff to operate them.

He further admitted that the military situation in eastern Ukraine was "difficult but under control". 

Earlier this month, Reznikov said that the military situation was likewise difficult but remained under control. He further stated that an estimated 500 Russian troops were getting killed everyday. These remarks came right after Wagner PMC announced they liberated Soledar from Kiev's forces. 

Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Zakharova said on Friday that the delivery of Western tanks to Ukraine does not change the situation, but brings the confrontation between the West and Russia to new levels.

⚡️ NATO more concerned with showing off than being effective, NATO is fully involved in Ukraine conflict - Russian Foreign Ministry Zakharova

Delivery of Western tanks to Ukraine will not change situation, but it brings confrontation between West and Russia to a new level. pic.twitter.com/54sOQN2Lju

— Kuroi (@Rojhatz) January 27, 2023

On January 7, Reznikov said that Ukraine is shedding blood to carry out the mission that the NATO alliance set for itself and expects the West to provide weapons and ammunition in return, and that NATO considered Russia the greatest threat to the US-led military alliance.

"Today, Ukraine is addressing that threat. We’re carrying out NATO’s mission today, without shedding their blood. We shed our blood, so we expect them to provide weapons," the Ukrainian Minister indicated.

The top diplomat pointed out that his NATO colleagues have told him that Ukraine is the "shield of civilization" and is "defending the entire civilized world, the entire West."

Read more: Threat of direct Russia-NATO conflict persists: NATO military chief