Twenty countries have pledged to provide additional weapons to Ukraine to deal with Russian forces, the same day the Ukrainian president used the podium at the World Economic Forum to demand new sanctions against Russia and new shipments of military equipment.
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reported these new commitments at the second meeting of the “Ukrainian Defense Contact Group”.
Representatives from 44 countries almost met to discuss military assistance to Ukraine at this stage of the conflict. The Ukrainian Minister of Defense explained to participants the current military situation, three months after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The meeting went well today.said Lloyd Austin. Many countries will provide the necessary ammunition for artillery, coastal defense systems, tanks and other weapons. for the kyiv army, he added.
Among the equipment to be delivered to Ukraine, Denmark has notably undertaken the delivery of a Harpoon anti-ship missile system. The Harpoon is usually loaded on warships or submarines, but Denmark is the only country to get a modified version of this missile launcher, which is installed in trucks and thus becomes a coastal defense battery.
The Czech Republic has promised to supply attack helicopters, tanks and missiles.
Since the first contact group meeting last month in Germany, the speed of donations and delivery is exceptionalMr. welcomed. Austin.
” Everyone here understands the stakes of this war, and they are far from Europe. Russia’s aggression is a violation of international order. “
But the U.S. Secretary of Defense was reluctant to specify the weapons the United States would provide to Ukraine after Congress approved an additional $ 40 billion in aid to Ukraine.
However, he noted that Ukraine’s needs have not changed at this stage: artillery, tanks, drones and ammunition.
A plea for help from Kyiv to Davos
It was certainly the stronger military assistance that Volodymyr Zelensky requested on Monday on the opening day of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum.
If we received 100% of our needs in February, the result would be tens of thousands of lives saved. That is why Ukraine needs all the weapons we demand, not just the ones providedsaid the Ukrainian president, in Davos, Switzerland.
We need guns more than anythinghas already indicated to the press on Sunday night that Anastasia Radina, a Ukrainian parliamentarian who arrived in Davos.
Ukraine needs weapons as in NATOincluding tanks, air defense systems, fighter planes, he detailed to the AFP, considering that military assistance has been received so far, still not enough.
After three months of war, and tens of thousands of lives lost, we are still debating whether we need fighter jets. Actually it’s outrageoushis sigh.
New penalties are demanded
The Ukrainian government has also called for tougher sanctions against Russia, which it wants completely isolated from international trade.
There should be no trade with Russiasays Mr. Zelensky, calling among other things for an embargo on Russia’s oil and measures against all Russian banks, without exception.
” Penalties […] should be at the maximum, so that Russia or any other potential aggressor who wants to wage a brutal war against its neighbor is clearly aware of the immediate consequences of its actions. “
Western countries have implemented a whole series of economic sanctions against Russia. But if the United States and the United Kingdom have already given up on Russia’s oil imports, the European Union is struggling to agree on the subject, as some of the member countries are dependent on gas and oil.
We understand that Europe is trying to estimate the value it will have for its economy. But on the other side there is Ukraine, there is a real warinsisted the Ukrainian Minister of Economy Yulia Svyrydenko, who personally arrived in Davos. Russia wants to destroy Ukraine […] and threatens the world with famine. We certainly don’t have time for review. We need to completely cut off Russia from the civilized world.
Ukraine is a major global supplier of cereals and oilseeds, which it can no longer export through its ports, which were blocked by the Russian army. The situation is fueling rising food inflation around the world and creating supply concerns for many countries, especially in Africa.
Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with the European Union, the United Kingdom, Turkey and officials fromUN in an attempt to establish a corridor that will allow us to export our wheat, our sunflowers, and other grains.
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, for his part offered his services as a potential mediator. We are in touch with all parties involved in the Ukrainian crisis, and I am ready to contribute to all international and regional efforts to find an immediate and peaceful solution to the conflict.he said in a speech in Davos.
The founder of the global economic forum, Klaus Schwab on Monday praised the brave leadership of the President of Ukraine and accepted a particularly strong delegation of Ukrainiansbut banned the Russians this year, who usually represent a large contingent of participants.
Where the other years stand a home of RussiaUkrainians exposed the war crimes of them. So they hope to better convince the international community to strengthen its support.
Everyone is affected by what is happening in your countryalso told Klaus Schwab to the Ukrainian president.
Source: Radio-Canada
