Zelensky in UK on rare visit abroad
By CHEN WEIHUA in Brussels | China Daily | Updated: 2023-02-09 07:18
Longer period
Reznikov had earlier said that Ukrainian forces would begin training on Leopard tanks in Europe on Monday before the delivery arrived in Ukraine.
The trip to Kyiv was Pistorius's first foreign trip in his current post. He also met Zelensky.
At a news conference with Reznikov, Pistorius defended the slower German approach of approving tanks earlier, saying the longer period of consideration on Leopard 2 tank deliveries was justified given the decision's "gravity".
Berlin has repeatedly expressed that it did not want to be seen to make such a move alone, and it only agreed after similar pledges to provide tanks made by the US and the UK.
US President Joe Biden announced on Jan 25 that the US will provide 31 M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. A new US aid package is expected to include long-range rockets. The total promised military aid promised by the US to Ukraine has exceeded $29 billion since February 2022.
Canada, Poland, Germany, the United Kingdom have also announced that they will supply battle tanks to Ukraine.
Canada confirmed on Sunday that the first German-made Leopard 2 tank that it is donating to Ukraine had arrived in Poland.
Agencies contributed to the story.
