US Announces Massive $2.5 Billion Weapons Package for Ukraine
Jan 19, 2023
The US on Thursday announced a new massive $2.5 billion arms package for Ukraine that includes Stryker armored combat vehicles for the first time.
The tranche of weapons includes 90 Strykers and 55 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which the US first pledged to send to Ukraine as part of an over $3 billion arms package that was announced earlier this month.
The package also includes munitions for the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), and other equipment.
The Strykers are made by General Dynamics and are designed to transport troops with extra protection, similar to the Bradleys. The Stryker is lighter and faster than the Bradleys and is on wheels as opposed to tracks.
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Defense chiefs fail to resolve dispute on tanks for Ukraine
Jan 20, 2023
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany (AP) — Ukraine will have to wait longer to find out if it will get advanced German-made battle tanks.
A dispute over sending the tanks from Western allies to help Ukraine against Russia’s invasion played out both in public and private on Friday, as more than 50 defense leaders meeting in Germany failed to hammer out an agreement — stalled by Berlin’s hesitation.
Failure to reach agreement on what has become an urgent request from Ukrainian leaders largely overshadowed commitments from a number of nations — including the U.S. — to send billions of dollars in equipment and weapons to the war effort.
While U.S. and NATO leaders denied any dissension in the ranks and praised Germany for its widespread weapons and training contributions to Ukraine, a smaller group of leaders met privately with the Germans to try to find common ground. They were unable to forge a consensus on sending the German-made Leopard tanks.
Continue reading at apnews.com
Lloyd Austin in Berlin to Push German Government on Tanks
Jan 19, 2023
Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin met with his new German counterpart in Berlin on Thursday as there is mounting pressure on Germany to sign off on the delivery of tanks to Ukraine.
Poland and Finland are ready to send their German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, but the delivery requires Berlin’s approval, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is hesitant to grant it.
According to multiple reports, Scholz said Wednesday that he would only sign off on sending the Leopard if the US is willing to send M1 Abrams tanks, but the Pentagon said this week the US is “not there yet,” citing the difficulty in maintaining the Abrams. However, Germany’s new defense minister, Boris Pistorius, said he wasn’t “aware of any such stipulation” when asked about Scholz’s comments.
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