Jan 25 (Reuters) – Russia reacted with fury on Wednesday to Germany’s decision to approve the supply of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, saying Berlin was abandoning its “historical responsibility to Russia” arising from Nazi crimes in World War Two.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated in a Telegram submit that the transfer was affirmation of Germany’s involvement in “a war planned in advance” in opposition to Russia.
The Russian embassy in Berlin stated the decision – which paves the best way for different NATO members additionally to ship German-made tanks – would escalate the 11-month battle in Ukraine, which Moscow casts more and more as a deadly face-off between Russia and the U.S.-led alliance.
“This extremely dangerous decision takes the conflict to a new level of confrontation,” Ambassador Sergei Nechayev stated. He added it might trigger “irreparable damage to the already deplorable state of Russian-German relations”.
There was no quick response from President Vladimir Putin, who shortly after the announcement took half in a protracted televised assembly with college students however referred solely briefly to the “complicated” safety state of affairs dealing with Russia.
Kyiv and its Western allies say Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, launched on Feb. 24 final 12 months, quantities to an unprovoked battle of aggression aimed toward seizing territory. Moscow says the West is utilizing Ukraine to weaken Russia’s personal safety.
‘HISTORICAL RESPONSIBILITY’
Germany’s decision on tanks adopted weeks of agonising by the federal government of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, prompted by issues about escalating the battle and scary Russia.
More than 80 years after their nation invaded Soviet Russia and Ukraine in World War Two, some Germans recoil on the concept of sending tanks into a brand new conflagration there, out of a way of historic guilt that the Russian embassy assertion instantly tapped into.
“Berlin’s choice means the final refusal of the Federal Republic of Germany to recognize its historical responsibility to our people for the terrible, timeless crimes of Nazism during the Great Patriotic War, and the consigning to oblivion of the difficult path of post-war reconciliation between Russians and Germans,” Nechayev stated.
“With the approval of the leadership of Germany, battle tanks with German crosses will again be sent to the ‘eastern front’, which will inevitably lead to the deaths of not only Russian soldiers, but also the civilian population.”
Kyiv has for months requested for Western tanks that it says it desperately wants to offer its forces the firepower and mobility to interrupt by Russian defensive strains and recapture occupied territory within the east and south.
Russia has repeatedly stated international tanks will “burn” in Ukraine. It says they’ll solely lengthen the battle and extend Ukrainian struggling, and that the West is “deluded” to suppose in any other case.
[1/10] U.S. M1A2 “Abrams” tank strikes to firing positions throughout U.S. led joint navy train “Noble Partner 2016” close to Vaziani, Georgia, May 18, 2016. REUTERS/David Mdzinarishvili
Reporting by Mark Trevelyan
Editing by Gareth Jones
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
Russia slams German tank decision as escalation of battle, betrayal of history
Russia slams German tank decision as escalation of battle, betrayal of history
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Russia slams German tank decision as escalation of battle, betrayal of history