“The Russian attack marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to help Ukraine defend against the invading army of Putin. That’s why we’re supplying 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 Stinger missiles to our friends in Ukraine,” he wrote in a Twitter post.
US
President Joe Biden had authorized an additional US$350 million in military
assistance from Pentagon inventories, including anti-armor, small arms, various
munitions, body armor, and related equipment. The White House also reportedly
asked Congress to provide US$6.4 billion in extra funds to assist Ukraine.
Berlin Saturday authorized NATO partners the Netherlands and Estonia to deliver German-made weapons to Ukraine.
The batch of weapons included 400 RPGs from the Netherlands and old GDR howitzers from Estonia.
Germany has a long-standing policy of not exporting weapons to war zones, rooted partly in its bloody 20th-century history and resulting pacifism. Countries aiming to pass on German weapons exports need to apply for approval in Berlin first.
Scholz had repeatedly referred to this policy in recent weeks when refusing to deliver weapons to Ukraine.
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine is entering the third day, fighting broke out at the outskirts of the Ukrainian capital city Kyiv, which is regarded as the primary goal of the Russian forces.
United States and UK officials said the Russian forces were about 18 miles, or 30 kilometers, from the city center.
The speed of the advance has been slowed “likely as a result of acute logistical difficulties and strong Ukrainian resistance”, the UK’s Ministry of Defense said.
However, a Pentagon official warned the situation may change rapidly.
“It’s a battlefield and events on the battlefield are dynamic and they can change very, very quickly,” the official said.
More than 100,000 Russian troops have entered Ukraine, Zelensky said in a Twitter post.
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