© Reuters. U.S. Secretary of Protection Lloyd Austin, Ukraine’s Protection Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, Iceland’s Minister of International Affairs Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir and NATO Secretary Normal Jens Stoltenberg, meet to debate the best way to assist Ukraine defend itself
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(Reuters) – No determination was reached by Western allies on a fast cargo of German Leopard-2 battle tanks to Ukraine to spice up its firepower for a doable spring offensive in opposition to Russian forces.
WEAPONRY
* Senior U.S. officers are advising Ukraine to carry off on launching a serious offensive in opposition to Russian forces till the newest provide of U.S. weaponry is in place and coaching has been supplied, a senior Biden administration official stated.
* Though NATO defence leaders and allies reached no determination on authorising export of Leopard-2 tanks at a gathering on the Ramstein army base, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius stated Berlin was able to “transfer shortly” if there was an settlement.
* Ukraine will nonetheless must battle to make sure a provide of recent heavy armour, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated.
* Ukrainian forces will prepare on Leopard-2 battle tanks in Poland, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov was quoted as saying, regardless of the dearth of an settlement.
* A bipartisan delegation of three U.S. senators visiting Kyiv blasted the delays over Western tank provides, with one warning of an impending “main counter-offensive” by Russia.
* Germany and different international locations supporting Ukraine must resolve individually whether or not to produce it with tanks, the top of NATO’s Navy Committee, Admiral Rob Bauer, stated.
* NATO Secretary-Normal Jens Stoltenberg stated international locations backing Ukraine wanted to focus not solely on sending new weapons to Kyiv, however ammunition for older methods and serving to keep them.
* A bunch of 11 NATO international locations, together with Britain and Poland, pledged a raft of recent army assist to assist Ukraine.
* A Canadian firm supplying battle-ready armoured autos to Ukraine plans to ship the 200 autos Ottawa promised to Kyiv earlier than summer time, the agency’s chief govt stated.
OTHER NEWS
* Ukraine’s Western allies would possibly bridge delays in implementing a 10-point peace plan that the nation has put ahead if every nation takes accountability for one half, Olena Zelenska, Ukraine’s first woman, stated in an interview.
* The US will impose extra sanctions subsequent week in opposition to Russian non-public army firm the Wagner Group, which U.S. officers say has been serving to Russia’s army within the Ukraine struggle, the White Home stated.
* Ukraine’s power minister stated the scenario on the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy station was deteriorating due to the psychological state of its Ukrainian employees and the situation of apparatus.
