OAN Annytama Bhomik
UPDATED 3:37 PM PT – Friday, January 6, 2023
Following French President Emmanuel Macron’s declaration on Wednesday, President Biden and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have stated that they will send armored fighting vehicles to Ukraine.
Ukraine has consistently stated that it needs 600 to 700 infantry fighting vehicles as well as 300 tanks from the West for its military to have a chance in advancing past the heavily defending Russian positions along the frontline.
The United States has stated that it would give Ukraine, Bradley Fighting Vehicles, a mainstay of the American army, while France said it would give Kyiv light tanks, AMX-10 RCs, as well as Bastion armored personnel carriers.
“The United States intends to supply Ukraine with Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Germany intends to provide Ukraine with Marder infantry fighting vehicles,” an official said.
Zelinskyy praised France for its gift as well as praised German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and U.S. Vice President Joe Biden for deciding to provide his war-weary nation with armored assault vehicles. He made a statement on his official Telegram channel.
“We will have another Patriot battery and powerful armored vehicles – this is really a great victory for our country. All the details and deadlines will be tomorrow – after my conversation with Mr. Chancellor,”
The Russian president’s suggestion of a brief ceasefire to allow Orthodox Christians to observe Christmas was had been rejected by the Ukrainian president.
“They want to use Christmas as a cover to at least briefly stop the advance of our guys in Donbas and bring equipment, ammunition and mobilized men closer to our positions. What will this bring? Just another increase in the death toll. Everyone in the world knows how the Kremlin uses respites at war to continue the war with renewed vigor. But to end the war faster, that is not what is needed at all.”