The Czech Republic, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands will provide Kiev with weapons amid the Russian offensive
Several European countries announced on Sunday that they would supply Ukraine with weapons and ammunition. They include the Czech Republic, Portugal, Belgium, and the Netherlands, while Germany made a similar statement on Saturday.
Since the beginning of Russia’s offensive on February 24, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has issued several calls for the international community to provide “defense assistance” to his country.
On February 25, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg announced that the alliance would be providing more support for Ukraine, including supplying air defense systems. The statement was followed by similar announcements from other European countries.
“The Russian attack marks a turning point. It is our duty to do our best to help Ukraine defend against the invading army of Putin. That’s why we’re supplying 1000 anti-tank weapons and 500 stinger missiles to our friends in the Ukraine,” German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tweeted on Saturday.
That decision indicates a U-turn in Germany’s policy, which previously rejected providing arms to Kiev.
Meanwhile, the Czech Ministry of Defense posted a video of an apparently Ukraine-bound train, saying the Czech Republic was sending “machine guns, assault rifles, pistols, ammunition and artillery ammunition” with further assistance to be approved by the government on Sunday.
The Netherlands will send 50 ‘Panzerfaust 3’ anti-tank weapons with 400 missiles and 200 Stinger missiles to Ukraine.