The Kremlin said on Monday that any British tanks sent to Ukraine will 'burn' on the battlefield and warned military aid 'will not aid the situation on the ground' but instead only serve to prolong the on-going invasion
Since President Vladimir Putin's The Special Military Operation in Ukraine on February 24, the United States and its allies have given tens of billions of dollars' worth of weaponry including rocket systems, drones, armoured vehicles and communications systems
Britain said on Saturday it would send 14 of its Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine as well as other advanced artillery support in the coming weeks.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Britain of 'using this country as a tool to achieve their anti-Russian goals,' when asked about the British tanks.
'The special military operation will continue. These tanks are burning and will burn,' he said, using Moscow's term for Putin's invasion.
He added that plans by some countries - like the UK and Poland - to send tanks to Ukraine will 'not change the situation on the ground. It will only prolong this story.'
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak promised last week to provide British Challenger 2 tanks to Kyiv. Earlier this month France also pledged to send tanks - the French-build AMX-10 RC - to Ukraine.
Monday also saw the Kremlin deny any conflict between the Defence Ministry and the Wagner mercenary group fighting for Russia in Ukraine, calling it an invention of the media.
Tension between Wagner and the defence establishment burst into the open last Friday when the ministry claimed the capture of the Ukrainian town of Soledar - which Ukraine disputed - but made no mention of Wagner's role in the fighting.
Wagner's boss Yevgeny Prigozhin complained of attempts to minimise his forces' role and belittle their achievements. The defence ministry later issued an update praising the 'courageous and selfless actions' of Wagner fighters.
Peskov told reporters it was unhelpful for pro-Russian media to take part in media 'manipulations' about an alleged rift between the armed forces and Wagner. He said Russia recognised both as heroes, and 'both of them will be forever in our memory'.
'As for any conflicts, these are mainly products of informational manipulations, which are, okay, sometimes arranged by our informational opponents, but sometimes our friends behave in such a way that such enemies are not needed,' he said.
Meanwhile, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is under pressure to approve an increase in international military support for Kyiv by allowing the export of Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine by manufacturer Germany, and other countries that have them.
Warsaw has signalled it is willing to send Leopard tanks to its neighbour.
However, Kyiv suffered a setback on Sunday when German armsmaker Rheinmetall said it could deliver repaired Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine in 2024 at the earliest and would need a confirmed order to begin repairs.
Its chief executive was quoted as saying this by Bild newspaper on Sunday.
Germany announced earlier this month that it would provide Ukraine with 40 Marder infantry fighting vehicles to help repel Russian forces.
But Kyiv has also requested heavier vehicles such as the Leopards, which would represent a significant step-up in Western support to Ukraine.
Still, Economy Minister Robert Habeck said earlier this month delivering the Leopard tanks could not be 'ruled out'.
The German army has only around 350 Leopard 2 tanks today, compared to some 4,000 battle main tanks at the height of the Cold War.
For Rheinmetall, repairing the tanks it has in stock - at least 22 Leopard 2 tanks and 88 Leopard 1 tanks - would cost several hundred million euros, Papperger told Bild.
'The vehicles must be completely dismantled and rebuilt,' he added.
The firm also has 100 Marder vehicles, Papperger said, but these would also need repairs taking seven to eight months before they could be used.
'The vehicles must be completely dismantled and rebuilt,' he added.
The firm also has 100 Marder vehicles, Papperger said, but these would also need repairs taking seven to eight months before they could be used.
Germany has become one of Ukraine's top military supporters in response to Russia's invasion after last year, overcoming a taboo that is rooted in its bloody 20th century history on sending weapons to conflict zones.
Still, critics say German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and his ruling SPD are too slow, waiting for allies to act first instead of assuming Germany's responsibility as the Western power closest to Ukraine.
Germany's defence industry is banned by law from producing tanks for stock-keeping. Even if production were ramped up, experts say it could take at least two years for new tanks to be ready for use.
The country's military aid for Ukraine was potentially plunged into further disarray on Monday as Germany's much-criticised defence minister announced her resignation.
Christine Lambrecht's decision also comes as her department steers the massive project of modernising the country's military.
In a written statement, she said she submitted her resignation request to Chancellor Olaf Scholz, adding that 'months of media focus on my person' had stood in the way of a factual debate about the military and Germany's security policy.
The 57-year-old Lambrecht has been defence minister since Scholz became chancellor in December 2021.
Critics have long portrayed her as out of her depth. But Scholz stood by her, describing her last month as 'a first-class defence minister.'
Pressure on her mounted recently after an ill-judged New Year's video message.
The notoriously unwieldy department has a history of diminishing ministers' reputations.
Its importance increased with Russia's invasion of Ukraine. That prompted Scholz to announce a special 100 billion-euro fund to upgrade the German military, the Bundeswehr, which has suffered for years from neglect and in particular from ageing, poorly functioning equipment.
Last month, Lambrecht dismissed suggestions that the government had been too slow to get going on its spending drive. She said officials have moved fast but that 'such projects must be carefully negotiated - this is tax money.'
The minister also drew criticism for hapless communication, starting with a January 2022 announcement that Germany would deliver 5,000 military helmets to Ukraine as 'a very clear signal that we stand by your side.'
In April, she took her 21-year-old son along on a military helicopter flight, which became public when he posted a photo to Instagram that it turned out the minister had taken herself.
Her ministry said she had applied for permission and paid the costs herself, but critics said it showed poor judgement.
An amateurish New Year's video message on her own private Instagram account prompted new opposition calls for Lambrecht's departure and strained political allies' patience.
It showed a barely audible Lambrecht speaking against a backdrop of loud New Year's Eve fireworks in a Berlin street.
A war is raging in the middle of Europe,' she said. 'And connected with that for me were a lot of special impressions that I was able to gain - many, many meetings with interesting, great people.'
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