International mobilisation for Ukraine

United States and allies promised new arms packages to Ukraine at a defence conference in Ramstein, Germany.

Mihai Pelin, 27.04.2022, 13:50

The United States is ready to move heaven
and earth to bolster Ukraine’s defence, said US defence
secretary Lloyd
Austin on Tuesday at the US army base in Ramstein, in south-east
Germany, where Washington met its allies to discuss providing more
substantial support to Ukraine. 40 countries, including NATO members,
met to discuss supplying additional capabilities to the Ukrainian
army.

Germany was
initially
opposed
to the delivery of heavy weapons in the early days of the war, coming
under criticism from some European leaders. Berlin now announced it
will deliver 30 Gepard anti-aircraft tanks to Ukraine, a radical
change that may have an impact on other decisions as well. Moreover,
Germany will contribute to the training of Ukrainian soldiers. The UK
also announced it will send new rocket models, France will send
high-precision artillery and The Netherlands will send armoured
hawitzers.

Romania was
represented in Ramstein by its defence minister Vasile Dîncu,
who also briefly met his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksii Reznikov.
According
to a statement from the Romanian defence ministry, Dîncu
conveyed
his country’s full solidarity with Ukraine and its readiness to
maintain constant and open dialogue whenever necessary. He also
presented concrete ways of supporting Ukraine and highlighted the
extremely important role of the humanitarian logistical hub in
Suceava, in northern Romania, which has been efficiently used by a
number of states. Speaking about the evolution of the conflict,
Vasile Dîncu reiterated Romania’s support for Ukraine’s
sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally
recognised borders, condemned the atrocities committed in Ukrainian
towns and villages and highlighted the urgent need for the
unconditional opening of humanitarian corridors.

The site
chosen for the meeting on Ukraine, the air base in Ramstein, is most
likely not a coincidence. Apart from its logistical advantages, it
also has a symbolic effect in the war in Ukraine, being considered
NATO’s central point in this war. On the ground, Russia intensified
shelling of Ukraine’s railroad infrastructure to prevent deliveries
of western weapons. Moscow says it seized control of Kherson region,
in the south of the country. The shelling of the Azovstal steel
plant also continued. Russia’s foreign minister Sergey Lavrov
accused NATO of waging a proxy war with Russia and said the weapons
supplied by the West to Ukraine will become legitimate targets. (CM)