Michael Muller of the Social Democratic Party (SPD) issued this warning during an interview with the German broadcaster ARD. According to the member of the Bundestag – Germany's federal parliament – Berlin has no plans to send modern, Western-made tanks to the Ukrainian frontline as the risks involved are too high.
"We would only deliver such weapons in coordination with our NATO partners," Muller said, reiterating that Germany will continue to refrain from any "ill-considered unilateral moves." The lawmaker added that the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) wants to avoid becoming directly involved in the Russia-Ukraine war, and sending tanks could make the bloc a direct participant. (Related: At most, only 30% of NATO weapons are making it into Ukraine – WATCH the documentary.)
"That would be in the interests of all of us. If NATO became a direct war party against Russia, it would be an escalation that none of us want to imagine."
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude for Germany' support of Ukraine during the past year in a message addressed to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Twitter on December 31, 2022.
"Weapon deliveries, protection for over one million Ukrainians, G7 presidency with a focus on Ukraine, financial and technical aid, [European Union] candidate status. Thank you for the turning point, Mr. Chancellor," Zelensky said in German.
"Many are worried about the war. We sympathize with the Ukrainian people who, even on days like today, have no peace from the Russian bombs and missiles," Scholz said in reply.
According to Mueller, Scholz is now the only leader who continues to offer talks with Russia. The chancellor has repeatedly said that resolving the conflict between Russia and Ukraine would be much harder without dialogue with Moscow.
America to continue training Ukrainian troops in Germany
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Defense announced in December 2022 that the Biden administration is expanding the number of Ukrainian troops it trains at a base in Germany, with a new focus on advanced battlefield tactics.
The expanded training would emphasize "combined arms" warfare, with tight coordination among the infantry, artillery, armored vehicles and air support, so that each group is strengthened and protected by the others.
The military training is expected to begin this month, with American instructors training around 500 Ukrainian troops each month. At a news briefing, Pentagon spokesman Brig. Gen. Patrick S. Ryder said the given figures could still grow. Other U.S. officials said the battalions could range up to 800 soldiers each.
According to the New York Times, American forces are now training about 300 Ukrainians per month and have trained 3,100 since the war began. They focused on teaching them to use specific advanced U.S. weapons systems. Over 600 Ukrainian soldiers have also learned to use the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) – a full-spectrum, combat-proven, all-weather, 24/7, lethal and responsive, wheeled precision strike weapons system.
Visit UkraineWitness.com for more about the Russia-Ukraine war.
Watch this video about several Western countries providing Ukraine with additional weapons.
This video is from the Chinese taking down EVIL CCP channel on Brighteon.com.
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Defense chief offers Ukraine to be "testing ground" for NATO weapons.
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