Ukrainian soldiers will start training with panther tank Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov announced on Monday.
Speaking to reporters during a press conference in Kyiv, he said: “We are accumulating reserves and working on training more personnel, acquiring Western weapons.”
Reznikov also warned of an upcoming Russian invasion. “We expect an offensive. It is February, and the Russians love symbolism. We expect this pressure from them and we are ready.
But tanks are not the only weapon Ukraine needs to defend itself from enemy bombing. According to Reznikov, it needs long-range weapons reaching 150 kilometers which should be “more effective and active”. The maximum range of the current artillery provided by the West is 144 km.
On Thursday, US officials said the US was expected to announce new ukraine security package Worth about $2.2 billion, it will include long-range missiles for the first time for the country.
But these will not go to the extent that Ukraine is seeking long-range weapons over fears that they will be used to hit targets in Russia – such as the ATACMS missile, which Reznikov dismissed.
He assured, “I want to emphasize that we promise our partners that they will not use long-range systems to hit targets on Russian territory, only in the territory of Ukraine that the Russians have occupied.” Done,” he assured.
Talking about the military aid Ukraine has received, Reznikov said that they have been given “almost everything” in terms of weapons except for fighter planes, which they are sure they will get.
Ukraine is not a NATO member, but has become a “de facto NATO country” in this war, he said, receiving weapons, standards and digital systems. Reznikov said, “The only thing left is to be accepted into the alliance de jure.”