MOSCOW, 11 Feb. Western and, in particular, German tanks will not be able to change the course of the confrontation in Ukraine, Michael Kofman, director of research programs for Russia at the US Naval Research Center, said in an interview with Der Spiegel newspaper.
«Tanks
Even weapons as powerful as HIMARS long-range rocket launchers have lost their value. Usually, the analyst recalled, a particular type of weapon has the greatest effect when it is first used. used in this or that conflict.
At the same time, thousands of tanks have already been destroyed in Ukraine.“I don’t believe that Western tanks are so superior to Russian ones in terms of their qualities as to change the whole situation,” Kofman concluded.< br>
Earlier, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced an agreement with several European countries on the joint supply of 20-25 Leopard A1 tanks by the summer and more than 100 by the beginning of 2024.
In general, Germany plans to supply 178 Leopard tanks of the first generation and 14 Leopard 2 type A6 tanks to Ukraine.
Russia sent a note to NATO countries because of the supply of weapons to Ukraine. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted that any cargo that contains weapons for Ukraine will become a legitimate target for Russia. The Foreign Ministry stated that the NATO countries are «playing with fire» by supplying weapons to Ukraine. Lavrov warned that as the West pumps more and more long-range weapons into Ukraine, the geographic objectives of the special operation are moving further and further away from the current line.