Colombian President Gustavo Petro confirmed on Tuesday that Washington had suggested that Colombia transferred Russian-made military weapons to Ukraine, but the republic rejected this proposal.
"During a conversation with US General Laura Richardson and other US officials, I was told that due to Colombia’s inability to maintain (Russian-made weapons) in active service, they were ready to do so and send it to Ukraine," he said, answering to a question from TASS.
Petro stressed that his country’s "Russian weapons will not be used in this conflict.".
Scholz Decided to Send Leopard 2A6 Tanks to Kiev, German Media Reports
The German government has decided to send a company of Leopard 2A6 tanks to Ukraine, German media reported on Tuesday, citing sources. According to the publication, these tanks are now in service with the Bundeswehr.
The development came on the heels of US media reports that the Biden administration is considering delivering a "significant number" of Abrams M1 tanks to Ukraine.
Earlier, German media suggested that Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in a conversation with US President Joe Biden on Tuesday, made it clear that Germany would supply Ukraine with Leopard 2 tanks, but on the condition that Washington also send its Abrams tanks.
On January 18, US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Colin Kahl said that the Abrams tank is a very complicated piece of equipment, which is "expensive, hard to train on" and has a jet engine, so it will be difficult for Ukraine to maintain.
Addressing the WEF on the same day, Scholz highlighted that Germany was among the leading countries in terms of support for Ukraine and reaffirmed that his country would continue to provide assistance. At the same time, he rejected any unilateral steps on the issue, stressing that all decisions should be made in coordination with allies, especially the United States.
Later, however, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit denied that Scholz ever demanded that the United States deliver Abrams tanks to Ukraine as a precondition to Germany's own sending of Leopard tanks.
"At no time was there such a demand that one thing had to happen so that the other could happen," Hebestreit commented on the report.
Pentagon Says Aware of Reports on Abrams Tanks for Ukraine, Has Nothing to Announce at This Time
The Pentagon is aware of media reports about the United States going to announce the provision of Abrams tanks to Ukraine soon, but has nothing to announce at this time, spokesperson Pat Ryder said on Tuesday.
“I am aware of the press reporting stating that the US is considering providing Abrams tanks to Ukraine. I have no announcements to make at this time,” Ryder said during a press briefing.
Russia’s MoD Latest Statements on Special Op in Ukraine:
Russia’s aviation and artillery inflicted fire damage on the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kharkov region, which resulted in the elimination of over 40 Ukrainian servicemen, an armored fighting vehicle, and a motor vehicle.
Russia’s artillery fire hit units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the LPR and DPR.
Over 30 Ukrainian troops, five armored combat vehicles, an M-777 artillery system, and two US-made AN/TPQ-37 counter-battery radar stations were destroyed.
Russian troops continue their offensive in the DPR. Army Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery engaged the 25th Airborne Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the DPR.
Near Zaporozhye, during the day, artillery fire and Eastern Military District units have destroyed more than 25 Ukrainian servicemen, as well as an Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, two D-20 and D-30 howitzers, and three motor vehicles.
Airborne Troops artillery has destroyed a US-made AN/TPQ-50 counter-battery radar station in Kherson region.
The Operational-Tactical Aviation, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation hit the command post of the 57th Separate Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and a dump of artillery munition in the DPR.
Russian Aerospace Forces obliterated a self-propelled fire unit of the Ukrainian Buk-M1 SAM system.
Ten Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles were shot down by anti-aircraft defense forces over the past 24 hours.
Some 376 airplanes and 203 helicopters, 2,944 unmanned aerial vehicles, 402 anti-aircraft missile systems, 7,614 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 988 combat vehicles equipped with multiple rocket-launching systems, 3,898 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 8,159 units of special military hardware have been destroyed during the special military operation.
No comments:
Post a Comment