Zelensky urges western allies to send tanks to defeat the Russian invader

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appealed to western allies to speed up the delivery of military support – including badly needed heavy armour – in his country’s

struggle against the Russia invader. In an address to a pledging conference at the US airbase in Ramstein, Germany, he urged assembled defence ministers to agree in

“principle” to supply his forces with modern battle tanks. So far among the Nato allies, only the UK has agreed to send tanks, in the form of 14 British Army Challenger

2s. Russia is regrouping, recruiting and trying to re-equip. This is not a moment to slow down. It is a time to dig deeperLloyd Austin Mr Zelensky’s call will

intensify the pressure on Germany to authorise the release of its Leopard 2 battle tanks, which are potentially available in far greater numbers. Speaking remotely from

Ukraine, Mr Zelensky thanked allies for their previous support but said “hundreds of thank yous are not hundreds of tanks”. “We have to speed up. Time must become our

weapon, just like air defence and artillery, armoured vehicles and tanks, which we are negotiating about with you and which will actually make a victory,” he said. “You can

start this policy today. It is in your power to make a Ramstein of tanks. Not to bargain about different numbers of tanks but to open (the) principle (of) supply that will stop

Russian evil.” Mr Zelensky’s plea for greater speed was echoed by US defence secretary Lloyd Austin, who convened the talks and said the conflict has reached a “decisive

moment”.