Tass news agency report screenshot
Earlier, Ukraine's European Pravda reported on the 9th that Andrei kasyanov, the Ukrainian Chargé d 'affaires in Georgia, mentioned in an article published in the newspaper that Ukraine had asked Georgia to return the "Beech" air defense missile system handed over to Ukraine from Kiev in 2008. The diplomat also said that Kiev also asked Georgia to provide it with the "Javelin" anti-tank missile system obtained from the United States, saying that this move was not only "recognized by the United States", but the United States even proposed to provide Georgia with updated equipment as an alternative.
In response, the Georgian Ministry of National Defense issued a statement on Tuesday, saying that "experts or individual media spread incorrect information about the beech transaction, saying that Ukraine provided the beech air defense system to Georgia free of charge, which is not true. In 2007, the Ministry of National Defense spent millions of dollars to purchase and equip the beech system. This is based on a secret agreement, which is why we can't provide more details. In 20 17, the Ministry of national defense paid tens of millions of dollars to buy javelin anti-tank systems from the United States. "
The statement also stated that Georgia will continue to provide humanitarian and diplomatic support to Ukraine, and the Georgian government has repeatedly stated its position of providing weapons or dual-use equipment to Ukraine. RT report pointed out that Georgia has repeatedly stated that it will not send weapons to Ukraine. Georgia also refused to join the western sanctions imposed on Russia because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, saying that this position contradicted its national interests, and also rejected the call of Ukrainian officials to open a "second front" against Russia in the Caucasus.
In response to Georgia's purchase of the "Beech" system from Ukraine, Russian Viewpoint reported in 2008 that Georgia may have purchased a battalion of "Beech" air defense missile system, 48 supporting missiles and a large number of portable air defense missile systems from Ukraine in 2007, mainly imitating Soviet-style weapons samples from Eastern European countries.
Extended reading
Ukraine's most coveted heavy equipment has been "on the table"
After the United States and Europe recently approved the supply of heavy armored vehicles to Ukraine, the valve of "not providing offensive weapons to Ukraine" in the West was opened. Within a few days, news came out that Britain's Challenger 2, Germany's Leopard 2 main battle tank and American Stryker wheeled chariot would be provided to Ukraine. Even the American M 1 main battle tank seems to be non-negotiable.
Ukraine's long-awaited list of western main battle tanks has been placed on the negotiating table.
Report screenshot
On the 9th, the US Power website listed all kinds of heavy equipment that Ukraine may receive: the British Ministry of Defence is considering transporting about 10 Challenger 2 main battle tanks to Kiev, and Poland is considering providing the Leopard 2 main battle tanks made in Germany to Ukraine-this will mark the first time that Ukraine has received non-Soviet tanks from NATO member countries. The US "Politics" website revealed that the United States is considering providing stryker armored vehicles to Ukraine, and a senior US defense official also confirmed this statement to the "Power" website.
According to the British "Sky" news website, as the country with the most active aid to Ukraine, Britain is most likely to take the lead in delivering the "Challenger 2" tank. According to sources, discussions on this matter have been going on for several weeks, and the number of tanks provided may be 10. British Prime Minister Sunak has not yet made a final decision, but if the delivery is signed, Britain will be the first country to provide western main battle tanks to Ukraine.
Challenger 2 tank is famous for its rough skin. Its total combat weight exceeds 70 tons, and its Chobham composite armor once performed well in the Iraqi war, claiming to be one of the best protected tanks in the West. However, the tank has hardly been upgraded since its service, and its main equipment has fallen behind the times. In particular, its 120 mm rifled gun has high precision, but its armor-piercing power is insufficient. At one time, the British army considered retiring all Challenger 2 tanks. At present, the British Army has 227 Challenger 2 tanks in service, and hundreds more are in reserve. From this point of view, providing Ukraine with several Challenger 2 tanks has little impact on the British army's own capabilities.
European countries may provide Ukraine with older Leopard 2A4 main battle tanks on a large scale.
If there is a precedent in Britain, European countries are likely to flock to Ukraine in large numbers. At present, the largest number of equipments in Europe are the "Leopard 2" series main battle tanks developed by Germany, and the main models are the older "Leopard 2A4" and the newer "Leopard 2A6/7". Poland and other countries are considering providing Ukraine with a small number of "Leopard 2" main battle tanks, but the tanks are made in Germany and need the consent of Germany. So far, Germany has not budged on this issue. One of the reasons is that "other western countries have not provided main battle tanks, and Germany will not act alone." However, it is widely predicted in the west that if Britain provides Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, Germany is likely to change its mind.
At the same time, the United States is also considering providing more advanced armored vehicles to Ukraine, giving priority to "stryker" armored vehicles. This huge series of eight-wheeled armored vehicles, including personnel transportation, fire support, anti-tank missile platform, self-propelled assault guns and other derivative models, the US media did not disclose the specific models to be provided to Ukraine. Generally speaking, the "Stryker" armored vehicle has weak protection ability, but it has obvious advantages in the field of information technology.
The current Stryker armored vehicle is not suitable for fighting in Ukraine.
However, "Power" website admits that "stryker" armored vehicles may not be suitable for fighting in Ukraine. Because the off-road ability of the wheeled field it uses is poor, it is difficult to move on the muddy Ukrainian plain at present. If the temperature drops further, the ground may freeze hard, but the performance of "stryker" armored vehicle is poor in low temperature environment-it is said that in Alaska's cold weather, the time for the US military to repair this wheeled vehicle far exceeds their dispatch time.
Therefore, it is speculated that perhaps "Stryker" armored vehicle is just a transition before the United States provided Ukraine with M/KLOC-0 series main battle tanks. Since September, the United States has openly discussed whether to provide Ukraine with such American active main battle tanks. Although the Pentagon said a few days ago that the gas turbines used in the M 1 series tanks are complicated in maintenance and consume a lot of oil, they may not be suitable for use in Ukraine. However, just as the United States finally changed its mind on the issue of providing Patriot anti-missile systems to Ukraine, it is very likely that the United States will finally approve the provision of M 1 main battle tanks against the background that the West has provided Ukraine with a large number of heavy armored vehicles.