Support – Romania will continue to support Ukraine, said foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu at a meeting by videoconference of G7 foreign ministers held on Tuesday. The meeting was co-chaired by the US and Japanese top diplomats and focused on assessing the situation of Ukraine’s critical infrastructure and the stage of the support granted to Ukraine by the international community to help it manage the consequences of the Russian attacks. This format of the G7 meeting was launched in Bucharest in November on the sidelines of a meeting of NATO foreign ministers.
Tanks – German chancellor Olaf Scholz on Wednesday confirmed that Germany will be sending Leonard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. According to a statement, Berlin intends to provide 14 such tanks from its stocks. Training Ukrainian military to use the vehicles will begin soon in Germany, and Berlin will put at the disposal of the Ukrainian troops the ammunition and other needed logistical equipment. Olaf Scholz also announced that his government will soon issue the permits allowing other countries to send their own Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine. Countries like Poland and Finland, who wish to deliver German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, must first secure Berlin’s approval. Norway, the Netherlands and the US have also expressed willingness to deliver battle vehicles to Ukraine.
