Poland is preparing to supply ukraine with a second package of military
technical assistance. Reports from the ukrainian media say that kiev will
soon receive more defensive weapons from Warsaw.
Meanwhile russia reportedly is delivering fuel, weapons military equipment
to the rebel-held areas in eastern ukraine. It reported that the russian
federation secretly delivered nine thousand tons of fuel tanks infantry
fighting vehicles, anti-aircraft guns and drones to the divisions and units
of the first, donetsk and second launch army corps by rail and road.
Poland has joined a growing group of countries declaring they will supply
weapons to ukraine amid the country's tensions with russia.
Polish Defense Minister Marius Bloshchak announced the country's government
approved on february 1st the delivery of pyron thunderbolt short range, man
portable air defense manpad, systems and munition to the ukrainian armed
forces.
"Good news, the council of ministers has approved on my request a resolution
on aid to Ukraine," washchalk said in a tweet.
The latest move follows the declaration made by polish prime minister
matteis moravian during his february first meeting with Ukrainian President
Vladimir Zelensky in ukraine's capital kiev.
"We are ready to supply to ukraine several dozen thousand rounds of
ammunition artillery ammunition, air defense systems and also light mortars
and reconnaissance drones," Moritzky said as quoted in a statement released
by his office.
Poland has long been ukraine's ally and advocate of its interests in the EU,
Warsaw became particularly vocal about ukraine's sovereignty and security
after russia's annexation of crimea in 2014 and again last year following
the completion of the russia germany gas link, north stream two.
This is the moment when all europe and the entire western world must unite
for the sovereignty independence and territorial integrity of ukraine or
Yetzke told a joint press conference when the polish pm met the ukrainian
president in kiev last week.
The command of the armed forces of the russian federation has been secretly
delivered nine thousand tons of fuel, tanks, infantry fighting vehicles,
anti-aircraft guns and drones to the divisions and units of the first,
donetsk and second laughs army corps by rail and road.
The command of the armed forces of the russian federation continues to
provide logistics support to the operational grouping of russian troops in
the temporarily occupied territory in donetsk and luhansk regions.
In particular in january the occupiers secretly brought up to 9,000 tons of
fuel, several units of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles and aircraft
guns, russian-made UAV, other weapons and ammunition including for artillery
systems and mortars, the press service of the chief directorate of
intelligence of the ministry of defense of ukraine posted on facebook.
At the end of january, the command of the occupation forces sent
applications to the higher governing bodies of the armed forces of the
russian federation for additional weapons, as well as spare parts, units for
restoration or repair of military equipment for the divisions and units of
the first, donetsk and second luhansk army corps.
As reported on january 18, the chief directorate of intelligence of the
ministry of defense of ukraine reported that the command of the armed forces
of the russian federation was increasing the intensity of combat training
activities of the occupation forces in the temporarily occupied territory in
donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Meanwhile first u.s troop reinforcements has arrived in Poland. US President
Joe Biden promised this week to send more u.s troops to bolster nato's
allies in Eastern Europe.
"The west believes moscow is sent to preparing to invade ukraine. The first
batch of u.s soldiers reinforcing NATO Allies arrived in poland on
saturday," Polish Army major Prashemislav Lipsinsky told the ap news agency
on saturday.
He also said the bulk of a contingent of 1,700 u.s soldiers would come soon.
A polish military source said the plane was carrying u.s chain of command
personnel. TV footage showed temporary accommodation being prepared at the
G2A arena in the southern polish town of Jashinka, while workers could be
seen building a fence around the venue.
The deployment comes amid fears that russia could invade ukraine. the u.s
already has some 4500 troops in poland.
Washington said last week it would send about 3000 additional troops to
eastern europe to defend nato members against any aggression. this will
include two thousand troops being moved from the us to germany and poland.
Another one thousand u s soldiers already in germany are being sent to
romania. the us and its allies have accused russia of amassing some 100,000
troops on the borders of ukraine in preparation for an invasion of its
neighbor.
The US and EU have vowed to impose devastating sanctions on moscow if it
attacks. russia has denied the plans but says it could take unspecified
military measures if its demands are not met. Among other demands the
Kremlin want native to pledge never to admit ukraine as a member.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko complained that the u.s
deployment would make it harder for a compromise between the two sides. NATO
defense ministers are expected to discuss further reinforcements at their
next meeting on february 16th to 17th.
Tensions is very high in the region, with european countries are using
various dialogue formats to resolve the ukraine conflict. The normandy
format established in june 2014 is one and now the british prime minister
has suggested a new military pact.
The ukrainian parliament witnessed an unusual scene this week, a group of
representatives gathered around the lectern and held up flags of NATO and
Allied countries for the cameras, a demonstration of gratitude for foreign
support for ukraine in the confrontation with russia.
The flag of the united kingdom, the union jack featured twice. It was also
on display in the streets of the ukrainian capital on tuesday, when the
british prime minister Horace Johnson visited Kiev.
Ukraine is clearly grateful to the beleaguered johnson, who is under
considerable pressure on the domestic front. His government supplied ukraine
with anti-tank weapons in recent weeks the British army is training
ukrainian soldiers and now the british conservative leader is holding out
the prospect of financial support equivalent to 100 million euros to assist
Kiev in the current crisis.
At NATO headquarters earlier on thursday, secretary general jen stoldenberg
warned that russian troop numbers in belarus are likely to climb to 30,000
with the backing of special forces, advanced fighter jets, ask under
short-range ballistic missiles and S-400 ground-to-air missile defense
systems.
Over the last days, we have seen a significant movement of russian military
forces into belarus. This is the biggest russian deployment there since the
cold war, stoltenberg told reporters.
Russia has deployed tanks and artillery, fighter jets and helicopters,
advanced rocket systems and troops by the thousands all across Belarus
augmenting a fighting force that already envelops ukraine like a horseshoe
on three sides.
Russia says the troops have deployed for military exercises scheduled to
commence next month, but the build-up in belarus could presage an attack
from a new vector, one in proximity to ukraine's capital Kiev.
