The Kremlin on Thursday criticized the “direct participation of Westerners” in the conflict in Ukraine after the decision to transfer armored vehicles of German and American production to the Kyiv forces.
“In Moscow, we view this issue as direct participation in the conflict and believe that (involvement) is increasing,” Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said at a press conference.
Several Western countries confirmed the shipment of armored vehicles to Ukraine on Wednesday.
The number of combat vehicles sent is still unknown, but Germany authorized the transfer (re-export) of Leopard 2 armored vehicles and crew training, and the US announced the delivery of Abrams combat vehicles as a form of support against the Russian invasion began on February 24 last year.
According to the Público newspaper, Spain, the Netherlands and Finland have already expressed their readiness to supply part of the German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
Portugal has not yet taken a final decision on this issue.
Defense Minister Helena Carreiras told Lusa on Wednesday that she expects a decision to deploy Leopard 2s from the Portuguese army “in the next few days,” adding that Portugal will help Kyiv build tank capacity.
“Without a doubt: Portugal will participate and help Ukraine develop its capabilities in this area of Leopard 2 tanks,” he told Lusa during a visit to the Castelo Branco Association of the Disabled Armed Forces.
Regarding sending tanks to Ukraine, the defense minister said that Portugal is still evaluating the availability and the impact that the transfer of the Leopard 2 will have on the capabilities of the Portuguese army.
“I confirm that we are evaluating both our availability and the impact this will have on our capabilities, but with all due care and due diligence,” he said. “We must not lose opportunities in this movement,” he stressed.
According to him, the goal is to simultaneously help Ukraine together with Western partners, but not allow Portugal to lose its potential in terms of defense.
“We are doing this work, and I hope that in the coming days we will be able to make a decision,” he explained.
Helena Carreiras said that Portugal received “a few days ago” an “official request from Ukraine” for tank training and is currently also evaluating the conditions under which this will take place.
Less than 24 hours after it became known about the decision of Germany to supply Leopard 2 and supplies by other states (permission to transfer the lease), Russia launched a missile attack on Ukraine.
As a result of the rocket attack on Kyiv this Thursday morning, one person was killed and two were injured, the mayor of the municipality, Vitali Klitschko, said.
“We have information about one dead and two injured” in the Goloseevsky district, south of Kyiv, Klitschko said in a message he broadcast via the Telegram messaging system.
Agence France Presse reported on Thursday an explosion in the Ukrainian capital, adding that the military authorities had reported that 15 Russian missiles had been neutralized in the Kyiv region.
The total number of Russian missiles fired at Ukraine this Thursday is still unknown, but a Ukrainian air force spokesman acknowledged that at least thirty were fired in the early morning, and six Tu-95 strategic bombers were designed from the Russian region of Murmansk.
Author: Portuguese
Source: CM Jornal
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