The speaker of Russia’s parliament warned Sunday that countries supplying Ukraine with more powerful weapons risked self-destruction, a message that followed new promises of armored vehicles, air defense systems and other equipment, but not the battle tanks Kyiv had requested.
“The supply of offensive weapons to the Kyiv regime will lead to a global catastrophe,” State Duma Chairman Vyacheslav Volodin said. “If Washington and NATO provide weapons that will be used to attack peaceful cities and try to seize our territory as they have threatened to do, this will lead to retaliation with more powerful weapons.”
Supporters of Ukraine pledged billions of dollars in military aid to Ukraine on Friday, although new commitments were overshadowed by the failure of defense leaders at an international meeting in Ramstein, Germany, to agree to Ukraine’s urgent request for German-made Leopard 2 tanks.
Germany is one of the main donors of weapons to Ukraine, and ordered a review of Leopard 2 stocks in preparation for the green light possible. However, the government in Berlin has been careful at every step to increase its commitment to Ukraine, a hesitation that seems to be based on history and political culture.
The tentativeness has drawn heavy criticism, particularly from Poland and the Baltic states, countries on NATO’s eastern flank that have been controlled by Moscow in the past and which feel threatened by Russia’s new imperial ambitions.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that if Germany does not agree to transfer Leopard tanks to Ukraine, the country is ready to build a “small coalition” of countries that will send them anyway.
“Almost a year has passed since the outbreak of war,” Morawiecki said in an interview with Polish state news agency PAP published Sunday. “Evidence of the war crimes of the Russian army can be seen on television and on YouTube. Why should Germany open its eyes and start acting in accordance with the potential of the German state?”
“Most importantly, Berlin must not undermine or sabotage the activities of other countries,” Morawiecki said.
In Washington, two key lawmakers asked the US on Sunday to send some Abrams tanks to Ukraine, to overcome Germany’s reluctance to show its more suitable Leopard 2 tanks.
“If we announce that we are giving Abrams tanks, just one, that will release” the flow of tanks from Germany, Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, told ABC “This Week is Sunday.” “What I hear is that Germany is waiting for us to take the lead.”
Senator Chris Coons, a Democrat who sits on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is considered close to President Joe Biden, also spoke against the US sending Abrams.
“I am concerned that the Russians are rearming and preparing to attack in the spring,” Coons said. “If it requires us to send some Abrams tanks to unlock taking Leopard tanks from Germany, from Poland, from other allies, I will support it.”
Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, said the meeting in Ramstein “leaves no doubt that our enemies will try to destroy or better destroy us,” adding that “they have enough weapons” to achieve that goal.
Medvedev, a former Russian president, warned on a messaging app channel that Russia could seek to create a military alliance with the United States’ adversary. He did not name the countries he had in mind, but Russia has defense cooperation with Iran and Venezuela, an existing military alliance with Belarus and strong ties with North Korea. Since invading Ukraine, Russia has also increased the scope and number of joint military exercises with China.
“If there is an ongoing conflict, a new military alliance will emerge that will include countries that are tired of America and a pack of neutered dogs,” Medvedev said.
Ukraine is asking for more weapons as it expects Russian forces to launch a new offensive in the spring.
Oleksii Danilov, the secretary of the Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, warned that Russia could try to expand its offensive in the south and in the east and cut off Western arms supply channels, while conquering Kyiv “remains the main dream” of President Vladimir Putin. “fantasy,” he said.
He described the Kremlin’s goal in the conflict as “total and absolute extermination, a war of total destruction.”
“Moscow wants to completely destroy Ukraine as a historical phenomenon – language, history, culture, carrier of Ukrainian identity,” wrote Danilov in a column published by Ukrainska Pravda.
Among those calling for more weapons for Ukraine is former British prime minister Boris Johnson, who made a surprise visit to Ukraine on Sunday.
“This is the moment to double down and to give the Ukrainians all the personal they need to finish the job. The sooner Putin fails, the better for Ukraine and for the whole world,” said Johnson in a statement.
Johnson, who faces new questions at home about his personal finances, was pictured in the city of Borodyanka, Kyiv region. He said he traveled to Ukraine at the invitation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Last week was particularly tragic for Ukraine even by the standards of the brutal war that has lasted for almost a year, killing tens of thousands of people, maiming millions more and causing massive damage to Ukrainian cities.
A Russian missile strike hit an apartment complex in the southeastern city of Dnipro on January 14, killing at least 45 civilians, including six children. On Wednesday, a government helicopter carrying the interior minister and other officials crashed into a building housing a kindergarten on the outskirts of Kyiv. Ministers and children on the ground were among the 14 people who died.
Zelenskyy, who on Saturday mourned the victims of the helicopter crash, promised Sunday that Ukraine would win the war.
“We are united because we are strong. We are strong because we are united,” the Ukrainian leader said in a video speech as he marked Ukraine’s Unity Day, which commemorates the day in 1919 when Eastern and Western Ukraine were united.
“Invincible people, Happy Unity Day of Ukraine!” said.