16 March 2023 18:06

Politics

Tanks, MiG-29 jets, and sniper rifles: what countries will give Kyiv weapons after the Ramstein-10

Author

Olexandr Zakharov

The 10th meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group resulted in Kyiv receiving 150 Leopard battle tanks and more air defense systems. In addition, Ukraine is to receive MiG-29 fighter jets from Poland and Slovakia soon. However, modern fighter jets weren’t on the agenda. Several countries also announced new aid packages. What will western allies provide the Ukrainian army with to bolster it for the counteroffensive ahead?

Who gathers 300 tanks for Ukraine

previously reported that the tank coalition supporting Ukraine includes at least 11 countries:

Leopard tanks (Ukraine was promised 150 Leopard tanks)

Ukraine will receive 150 Leopard 1 and Leopard 2 tanks. Photo: Wikipedia

Germany;
Canada;
Norway;
Denmark;
the Netherlands;
Poland;
Portugal;
Spain;
Sweden.

M1 Abrams tanks

The U.S. promised to give Ukraine M1 Abrams tanks. Photo: Wikipedia

the United States.

Challenger 2 tanks

The U.K. gave Ukraine Challenger 2 tanks. Photo: Wikipedia

the United Kingdom.

The so-called AMX-10 RC light tanks (more properly classified as a wheeled armored fighting vehicle — ):

France (the first 14 AMX-10 RC vehicles have already arrived in Ukraine).

What countries will give additional weapons to Ukraine

As have been agreed at the Ramstein-10 meeting, the EU countries will jointly purchase 1 million artillery rounds for Ukraine. In addition, the following countries announced their plans to help Kyiv:

Estonia: sniper rifles and sights

Estonia will provide Kyiv with yet another package of military aid worth €494,000. It will include sniper weapons and equipment for special operations forces. The package includes:

semi-automatic rifles;
sniper rifles;
binoculars;
sights;
ammunition;
individual and special equipment;
patrol boats;
thermal imagers;
medical equipment.

Poland: fighter jets are on their way to Kyiv

Poland is giving Ukraine 10 MiG-29 jets. Photo: Wikipedia

Despite his previous pledge to give Ukraine fighter jets within 4 to 6 weeks, Polish President Andrzej Duda decided to speed up the process: Ukraine is receiving the first four jets in the coming days.

Warsaw has promised Ukraine a total of 10 MiG-29 fighter jets, so the other 6 ones are undergoing maintenance and preparation for delivery.

Slovakia: more MiG-29 jets

The government of Slovakia considers giving Ukraine MiG-29 jets. Photo: Lukasz Rownicki/jetphotos.com

Slovakia, for its part, also promised to give Ukraine 10 out of its 11 MiG-29 jets (one will remain in a museum). So far, the delivery date is unknown, but the government started discussing it on March 15.

Canada: Leopard 2 tanks and surface-to-air missiles

Canada is sending eight Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Photo: Wikipedia

Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand also announced a new aid package for Ukraine.

it includes:

8,000 155-mm shells;
12 surface-to-air missiles for Ukrainian air defense forces;
over 1,800 105-mm training rounds for Leopard 1 tanks given by the Netherlands and Germany;
8 Leopard 2 tanks as part of the package of 150 tanks to be delivered to Ukraine in the coming weeks (four of them have already arrived in Poland).

Sweden: 10 Leopard 2 tanks

As a member of the tank coalition, Sweden pledged to provide Ukraine with:

10 Leopard 2 tanks;
key components for air defense — launchers for IRIS-T and HAWK surface-to-air missile systems.

Norway: American-made NASAMS

The country is working with the United States to deliver NASAMS systems to Kyiv and also initiates new contracts to ensure the possibility of providing Ukraine with new weapons.

Slovenia: armored vehicles

Specific types of equipment weren’t disclosed, but the country pledged to meet several priority needs of Ukraine, which include armored vehicles.

France has delivered the first light tanks

The first AMX-10 RC light tanks have already departed for the frontline. Photo: Wikipedia

On March 16, the first batch of French AMX-10 RC light wheeled tanks arrived in Ukraine (Paris first promised to deliver 14 vehicles). Some of the vehicles have already been sent to the combat zone, and Paris is now arranging the delivery of the second batch. Ukraine is to receive a total of 40 such armored vehicles.

What Ukraine was promised after the Ramstein-8 and Ramstein-9 meetings

After the two previous meetings of the Ramstein group, namely the ninth and tenth ones, Ukraine has been given or promised the following weapons and ammunition:

Air defense systems