Ramstein Air Base:  As the US hosted a meeting of allies at in Germany on Friday, Germany announced a deal to establish a hub in Poland to repair tanks deployed in Ukraine, and the United States said it will soon start training Ukrainian troops to use its Abrams tank.

The latest in a string of arms-pledging conferences to Ukraine since Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the invasion last year, the Ramstein Air Base meeting declared its focus to be air defence and ammunition but made no major announcements regarding weapons.

In addition, it gave Kyiv the assurance of unwavering support and supported Ukraine's plans to eventually join NATO, but officials made it clear that the immediate priority was supporting Ukraine on the battlefield.

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In preparation for a counteroffensive to drive back Russian troops that is anticipated in the upcoming weeks or months, Ukraine has pressed its allies for long-range weapons, jets, and ammunition.

US Army General Mark Milley, head of the Joint Chiefs of staff, claimed that the M1 tank, when it is delivered, "will make a difference," despite the fact that the Abrams is the best tank in the entire world.

According to US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, Abrams battle tanks will be delivered to Germany in the upcoming weeks so that Ukrainian troops can start receiving training. Under the condition of anonymity, a US official added that the training would involve hundreds of Ukrainian soldiers and would last for about 10 weeks.

After months of rejecting the idea due to worries about the complexity and difficulty of maintaining them, the US finally agreed to provide Ukraine with 31 advanced M1A2 Abrams tanks in January.

Ukraine has received weapons and armour from NATO members and their allies, but the Ukrainian government has repeatedly demanded stronger weapons and faster supplies.

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When asked about Kiev's demands for modern fighter jets, Milley responded that Ukraine's top priority should be ground-based air defence. Due to Ukraine's effective use of its air defence system, the Russians are wary of entering the country. The most important thing at the moment is that, according to Milley.

A deal to establish a hub in Poland to repair the German-made Leopard tanks currently deployed in Ukraine was also announced by German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius during the meeting on Friday.

According to Pistorius, all parties reached an agreement on how to pay for the hub, which could start operating at the end of May and costs between 150 and 200 million euros ($384 million) annually.

He added that training for using the Leopard tanks for Ukrainian troops would soon start, and that Berlin's promise to deliver about 80 of them to Ukraine by the middle of the year was moving along quickly.

What does this all indicate? It demonstrates how steadfastly we want to stick with something. Putin cannot bide his time; we will persist, he declared.
When asked about Ukraine's chances of joining NATO, Pistorius responded that all members saw Ukraine as a future member, but "first things first."

At a meeting in Kyiv on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on weapon deliveries.
Zelensky said, "I have requested that Mr. Secretary General assist us in overcoming our partners' reluctance to supply some weapons, particularly long-range weapons, contemporary aviation, artillery, and armoured vehicles.

Because our soldiers haven't yet received the necessary number of essential defence tools, delaying pertinent decisions will cost time for both peace and their lives.

In a Friday press conference, Stoltenberg emphasised the significance of assisting Ukrainian battlefield logistics and revealed that Zelensky had been extended an invitation to the upcoming NATO summit in July.

"This is now a battle of attrition, and a battle of attrition becomes a war of logistics," he said. "Maybe it sounds a little more dull, but...

Viktor Orban, the prime minister of Hungary, shot down Ukraine's chances of joining NATO by simply tweeting "What?!" in response to the NATO secretary general's claim that the country should do so.

Before the meeting, Washington had announced an additional $325 million in new military assistance for Ukraine, including more ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), advanced missiles, and anti-tank mines.

Separately, Denmark and the Netherlands declared they would send 14 heavy Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine by the beginning of the following year. Rifles and army radios were announced by Canada.

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The meeting on Friday takes place at a critical time in Russia's nearly 14-month invasion of Ukraine, which has resulted in thousands of deaths, millions of displaced people, the destruction of cities, and a crippled economy.

Ukraine now hopes to launch a counteroffensive in the upcoming weeks or months to retake land in its south and east after surviving a Russian winter and spring offensive that only made marginal gains in the east.