05:36Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anusic confirmed that his country will deliver 30 tanks and 30 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia and will buy 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany in exchange, during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin Monday.
"30 M-84 armoured tanks and 30 M-80 armoured vehicles will be sent to Ukraine by the end of the year as assistance to Ukrainians in the fight for their independence," Anusic said.
Anusic went on to advocate for a collective, coordinated European defence policy.
"Ukraine will not change, there will still be a problem in Russia and Ukraine will continue to fight the conflict that it is fighting today. We must be aware that we, as a state and a member of the European Union, must not only have a strong economic and strong policy, but we must also have a strong defence policy that is coordinated within," he said.
Boris Pistorius claimed 'we see ourselves obliged' to support Ukriane and added that the delivery of armoured vehicles, air defence systems and ammunition was 'one of the focus points in supporting Ukraine.'
"Together, we are very determined to stand up to Russia's hostilities. We are doing this through our enhanced ability to deter and defend the NATO eastern flank. We are also doing this together. Already today, Croatia is involved with 140 soldiers in the battle group in Lithuania," he continued.
During the meeting, ministers signed a letter of intent as both countries agreed to send ammunition from Croatian stocks to Ukraine, according to media reports. Croatia will buy 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany to replace its soviet-era equipment and will deliver the tanks and armoured vehicles by the end of 2024.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
'Obliged' to support Ukraine! Croatia pledges tanks, IFVs, buys 50 Leopard 2 tanks off Germany in exchange
Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anusic confirmed that his country will deliver 30 tanks and 30 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia and will buy 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany in exchange, during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin Monday.
"30 M-84 armoured tanks and 30 M-80 armoured vehicles will be sent to Ukraine by the end of the year as assistance to Ukrainians in the fight for their independence," Anusic said.
Anusic went on to advocate for a collective, coordinated European defence policy.
"Ukraine will not change, there will still be a problem in Russia and Ukraine will continue to fight the conflict that it is fighting today. We must be aware that we, as a state and a member of the European Union, must not only have a strong economic and strong policy, but we must also have a strong defence policy that is coordinated within," he said.
Boris Pistorius claimed 'we see ourselves obliged' to support Ukriane and added that the delivery of armoured vehicles, air defence systems and ammunition was 'one of the focus points in supporting Ukraine.'
"Together, we are very determined to stand up to Russia's hostilities. We are doing this through our enhanced ability to deter and defend the NATO eastern flank. We are also doing this together. Already today, Croatia is involved with 140 soldiers in the battle group in Lithuania," he continued.
During the meeting, ministers signed a letter of intent as both countries agreed to send ammunition from Croatian stocks to Ukraine, according to media reports. Croatia will buy 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany to replace its soviet-era equipment and will deliver the tanks and armoured vehicles by the end of 2024.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.
Croatian Defence Minister Ivan Anusic confirmed that his country will deliver 30 tanks and 30 infantry fighting vehicles to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict with Russia and will buy 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany in exchange, during a joint press conference with his German counterpart Boris Pistorius in Berlin Monday.
"30 M-84 armoured tanks and 30 M-80 armoured vehicles will be sent to Ukraine by the end of the year as assistance to Ukrainians in the fight for their independence," Anusic said.
Anusic went on to advocate for a collective, coordinated European defence policy.
"Ukraine will not change, there will still be a problem in Russia and Ukraine will continue to fight the conflict that it is fighting today. We must be aware that we, as a state and a member of the European Union, must not only have a strong economic and strong policy, but we must also have a strong defence policy that is coordinated within," he said.
Boris Pistorius claimed 'we see ourselves obliged' to support Ukriane and added that the delivery of armoured vehicles, air defence systems and ammunition was 'one of the focus points in supporting Ukraine.'
"Together, we are very determined to stand up to Russia's hostilities. We are doing this through our enhanced ability to deter and defend the NATO eastern flank. We are also doing this together. Already today, Croatia is involved with 140 soldiers in the battle group in Lithuania," he continued.
During the meeting, ministers signed a letter of intent as both countries agreed to send ammunition from Croatian stocks to Ukraine, according to media reports. Croatia will buy 50 Leopard 2A8 tanks from Germany to replace its soviet-era equipment and will deliver the tanks and armoured vehicles by the end of 2024.
Moscow launched a military offensive in Ukraine in late February 2022 after recognising the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR), claiming that Kiev had failed to guarantee their special status under the 2014 Minsk Agreements, and urging Ukraine to declare itself officially neutral and give assurances that it would never join NATO.
Kiev denounced the Russian action as an invasion. Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky imposed martial law throughout the country, announcing a general mobilisation, while the EU and the US imposed several rounds of sanctions on Moscow.