Germany and the United States will send armored vehicles to Ukraine. This was stated in a joint statement by the leaders of the two countries – German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and President Joe Biden.
The announcement came after a phone call between the two Thursdays.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called for military help to significantly increase firepower of his army in the ongoing war with Russia.
The United States will supply Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, while Germany will supply Marder infantry fighting vehicles, the two nations said.
Germany will also send a Patriot missile system, following a donation from Washington last month, to help repel Russian missile and drone strikes.
Scholz and Biden added that they would welcome “further donations of air defense systems and combat vehicles” from allies.
Germany did not specify how many Marder vehicles it will deliver, but Der Spiegel said it could be as many as 40.
Two US officials said the US weapons package for Ukraine would include about 50 Bradley fighting vehicles. Humvees and a large number of missiles and other ammunition will also be included.
So far, Germany has agreed to supply Ukraine with Cheetah anti-aircraft tanks, but not the Marder infantry fighting vehicles that Kiev has repeatedly requested.
The West’s reluctance to send advanced weapons revolves around fears of provoking Russia.
Recall that today Biden hinted that Vladimir Putin is in a rather difficult situation in Ukraine after 10 months of war and thousands of lives lost prompted the Russian president to propose a 36-hour truce, saying: “I think he is trying to get some fresh air”.
The Kremlin said Putin ordered a ceasefire starting at noon on Friday, following a request for a Christmas truce by Moscow Patriarch Kirill, head of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Ukraine has rejected an offer of a ceasefire during the Orthodox Julian Christmas, saying there will be no let-up until Russia withdraws its invading forces from the occupied land.
When asked about the proposed truce, Biden told reporters at the White House: “I’m not inclined to respond to anything Putin says. I found it interesting that he is willing to bomb hospitals, day care centers and churches … on December 25 and New Year. I mean, I think he’s trying to get some fresh air.”
Putin’s truce will begin on January 6, when many Orthodox Christians, including those living in Russia and Ukraine, will celebrate Christmas. It will be the first major ceasefire in more than 10 months of war that has killed tens of thousands and devastated large parts of Ukraine.
