Having received the tanks, Ukraine moves on to discussing aircraft, submarines and long-range missiles

Western countries have agreed to supply tanks for use against a Russian invasion this week, prompting the Ukrainian government to go further by discussing the supply of larger military hardware.

(top, clockwise from top left: German frigate Lübeck (F214), German Leopard-2 main battle tank, German 212A hydrogen fuel cell diesel-electric attack submarine, F-16 fighter jet)

Talk of NATO countries supplying long-range missiles, warships, submarines and fighter jets is clear, and Ukrainian government officials appear to have been tasked with acquiring new equipment, wasting absolutely no time promoting new ideas immediately after broke through the dam in the supply of tanks.

The switch from talk of tanks to fighter jets was arguably inevitable, almost instantaneously after the United States and Germany dropped their previous objections to sending offensive armor to Ukraine this week. However, with Ukrainian politicians and diplomats trying to coax Western powers to send more equipment, the conversation has moved even further.

Negotiations to supply long-range missiles to Ukraine appear to be in full swing, with reports of the talks referring to them as “fast-tracked.” Ukrainian President Zelensky’s adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, who has been a supporter of Western warplanes, is involved in the missile talks and said he tried to explain to allies that getting modern weaponry would “reduce casualties … reduce security threats to the European continent.” this will help localize the war.”

However, Podolyak criticized some unnamed allied countries for being “conservative” about sending military aid, as they feared “changes in the international architecture”, in other words, deviations from the status quo.

But even larger and more advanced weapons than long-range missiles, main battle tanks and jet fighters appear to be on Ukraine’s shopping list. Deputy Foreign Minister Andriy Melnyk, who made headlines this week for instantly demanding jets even as the ink on the tank deal was still dry, he turned his attention to naval power.

Speaking of Ukraine’s desire to push Russia out of the Black Sea, the diplomat pointed to six German Project 212A diesel-electric attack submarines, asking for one, and the German frigate Lübeck, which was decommissioned last month.

The 212A submarines are considered to be small and stealthy craft using hydrogen fuel cells that drive an electric motor for silent underwater operation. “Why not send one to Ukraine?” Melnyk suggested.

The diplomat, who is a former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, made a similar argument in favor of a German warship. Laid down in the 1980s and decommissioned in December after a final deployment last summer, the Lübeck frigate is thus currently out of service but may still be able to resume operations quickly.

Melnyk said of the ship that, given the political will, “it could be handed over to Ukraine for military operations.” [Russian] submarines and warships in the Black Sea”, referring to the ship’s missiles “Sea Sparrow” and “Harpoon”.

Requests for even better weapons are raising serious questions from Western allies about how much they are willing to participate in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The United States has long insisted—up to the point where it changed its mind and agreed to send them—that its Abrams main battle tanks were too sophisticated to quickly train Ukrainians in driving, combat, and maintenance. However, donating a submarine with a new uncrewed power system is a whole new level of challenge. The dispatch of a manned submarine is possible immediately, but of course this would be an actual act of war on the part of a NATO member.

The conventional submarine crew embodied decades of experience and training to effectively use one of the most sophisticated weapons systems in the world, and even for experienced crews of competent navies, the complexity of submarine operations means the incessant drumming of stranded, damaged, and damaged submarines. boats. lost – with deadly consequences – while they are in service.

Highlighting the problem, German statesman Martin Habersaat caustically responded to Melnik’s request for one of six German submarines: asking how many sailors in the Ukrainian fleet were generally able to manage submarines.

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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

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