Volodymyr Zelenskiy stepped up calls for Ukraine’s army to be equipped with heavy tanks and called on Western allies for “decisiveness and speed” in making decisions in the face of opposition from German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
Addressing a packed meeting at the World Economic Forum in Davos via video link on Wednesday, Ukraine’s president warned that “tyranny is outpacing democracy” as Germany wavers over whether to supply the country with Leopard 2 tanks.
Scholz dashed hopes that he would announce a decision to supply Ukraine with heavy tanks in his keynote speech in Davos earlier in the day, making no commitments on new weapons and warning the world to avoid escalating the conflict into a war between Russia and NATO.
Instead, Scholz reviewed a list of military equipment supplied by Germany and emphasized his country’s determination to ensure Ukraine’s triumph.
But hours after a helicopter crash near a Kyiv suburb killed 14 people, including Ukraine’s Interior Minister Denis Monastirsky, Zelensky said Ukraine could not afford to wait for Russia to regroup.
“The world must not hesitate today and never. When evil seeks revenge, the world needs determination and speed,” Zelensky said.
“The supply of air defense systems to Ukraine must pre-empt the next Russian missile attacks. Western tank deliveries must forestall another Russian tank invasion.
“Restoring security and peace in Ukraine must precede Russia’s attacks on security and peace in other countries.
His speech was attended by his wife, Olena Zelenska, and some of Ukraine’s closest allies, including Polish President Andrzej Duda, as well as NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.
Duda said he feared Russia was preparing a new offensive in Ukraine within months, repeating calls for Kyiv to be equipped with tanks and missiles.
“They [Russia] are still very strong and we fear that they are preparing for another offensive in a few months, so it is extremely important that we send additional support to Ukraine, in particular advanced tanks and advanced missiles,” he said.
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Speaking in person in Davos before Zelensky’s address, Scholz attacked Russia’s “imperialist” war and stressed that to end the war, the Kremlin’s aggression must fail.
“That is why we are continuously supplying Ukraine with large quantities of weapons, in close consultation with our partners.
“This includes air defense systems such as IRIS-T or Patriot, artillery and armored infantry fighting vehicles, marking a profound turning point in German foreign and security policy.”
The UK, Poland and the Baltic states are pushing for Germany to go further and authorize the re-export of some of the 2,300 Leopard 2 tanks available or in storage in Europe.
Asked by a Ukrainian participant at Davos why he had not given the green light for the Leopard 2 tanks, Scholz said: “Ukraine can count on our support for their brave fight, but it is also clear that we must avoid this becoming a war between Russia and NATO”.
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