West today at the American military base in Ramstein: Why this meeting is so important to Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made an open call to Berlin to send tanks to Ukraine.

His call was made before Western allies gathered at the US military base Ramstein, in southern Germany, to discuss future stages of aid.

The United States and European nations have only pledged to help Kiev with more equipment to combat Russian conquest.

So Berlin's growing pressure to give permission to transport the Leopard model tanks to Ukraine.

If you have Leopard tanks, give us”, Zelensky told German public television.

These Leopard will not go to Russia. We are defending ourselves”, he said, as a sign of criticism against Haughty Access i n German government.

Defence officials from more than 50 states are expected to gather in Ramstein, a day after the United States and several European states have pledged to offer more equipment to assist Ukraine that repel any Russian eventual offensive.

After 11 months of Russia's start of war in Ukraine, NATO military officials believe Moscow is planning new offensive in the spring.

The United Kingdom has also offered to send 14 combat tanks to Ukraine, but Kiev wants more.

As a productive country, Germany must give permission before countries like Poland and Finland launch the available Leopard tanks.

However, Polish Deputy Foreign Minister Pawel Jablonski has warned Friday that Warsaw could take action off the standard if there is fierce resistance from Berlin.

A defence ministry adviser in Kiev has said on Friday that Ukraine's allies face a <x0-> simple solution”.

“Tanket for Ukraine are tanks for freedom”, Yuri Sack has said of British broadcaster BBC.

If we don't have these tanks sent to us, other states one day “can use themselves” against Moscow, he has warned.

Berlin has said this week that the decision on Leopard tanks is conditional on the United States' decision to send Abrams tanks, something Washington does not plan to do.

However, the new German Defence Minister, Boris Pistorius, has said he is unaware of such conditions.

On Thursday evening, Germany has said its position will be clearer in the coming hours, the AFP news agency reported.

Zelensky has repeatedly criticised Berlin's resistance to sending tanks, just as suggestions that the US and Germany plan to send tanks only if other states do the same.

I don't think this is the right strategy”, Zelensky said, calling for the decision-making “powerful” on Friday.

The retired general of the US Army, David Petraus, has said there are suspicions based on Washington over the delivery of Abrams tanks to Ukraine, because they are difficult to maintain and have a jet turbine.

He told the BBC that it is necessary for each Western donation to become “early enough so that Ukrainian soldiers can train”.

Russia, on the other hand, has warned Western states of sending tanks to Ukraine, saying something like this represents extremely dangerous “escalation of the conflict.

On Thursday, the United States has presented military assistance worth $2.5 billion.

In total, the United States has earmarked $27 billion in aid to Ukraine since Moscow started the war in February last year.

Tanks are not part of the aid package, but Petangon promised to send other equipment like Bradley, Stryker, other Avenger.

This announcement followed the promise of nine European nations that they will offer more help to Kiev/text: REL/ Title: Periscope