NATO says Ukraine can expect more Western heavy weapons, despite Russia's warnings

The US-led NATO military alliance has affirmed the continued flow of Western heavy weapons into Ukraine, despite Moscow's warning that delivery of such weapons to Kiev would only prolong the war and intensify the suffering of Ukrainian people.

The announcement was made by NATO's Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in an interview with Germany's Handelsblatt on Sunday.

He said Ukraine could expect more heavy weapons following Kiev's requests to its allies for the vehicles, artillery and missiles it says are key to defending itself.

"The recent pledges for heavy warfare equipment [from various Western countries] are important -- and I expect more in the near future," he said.

Kiev has been pressing its Western allies for more military vehicles, artillery and missiles, claiming that the only means of winning the war with Russia is a military approach.

"What is needed for [winning] this [war]? Those weapons that are in the warehouses of our partners," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Saturday.

Moscow says it started the war in order to defend the pro-Russian population in the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk against persecution by Kiev, and also to "de-Nazify" its neighbor.

Russia maintains that the West's anti-Russian agendas, including its eagerness for inclusion of Ukraine in NATO -- and, therefore, the military alliance's expansion right up to Russia's borders -- have forced Moscow to launch the war against Kiev.

Last month, the United States agreed to Ukraine's demand to provide it with American Patriot missile systems. And no earlier than Tuesday, the Pentagon said the US would soon begin to train scores of Ukrainian troops on how to deploy and maintain the military hardware.

Pentagon: US to train Ukraine forces on deploying Patriots missile systems

The US will soon begin to train scores of Ukrainian troops on how to deploy and maintain Patriot missile systems.

Earlier this month, the US also pledged to arm Ukraine with 50 Bradley fighting vehicles. About the same time, France and Germany also promised French AMX-10 RC light tanks and 40 Marder infantry vehicles, respectively.

Also on Saturday, the UK government said it was set to supply Ukraine with a fresh package of lethal military equipment, including heavy battle tanks.

UK set to supply Ukraine with Challenger 2 tanks, more artillery systems, PM says

The UK government is set to supply Ukraine with a squadron of Challenger 2 tanks and additional artillery systems.

On Sunday, Russia, which says it is practically fighting NATO in Ukraine, warned that the UK's plan to supply Ukraine with tanks and other heavy weaponry would only escalate the war and generate more casualties among civilians.

The Russian embassy in the UK warned in a statement that "bringing tanks to the conflict zone, far from drawing the hostilities to a close, will only serve to intensify combat operations, generating more casualties, including among the civilian population."

Russia warns UK’s plan to supply Ukraine with tanks will escalate war

Russia warns that the UK

The Challenger 2 tanks are expected to arrive in Ukraine in the coming weeks, a statement from the British prime minister's office said later Saturday, adding that the UK will also begin training the Ukrainian Armed Forces to use the tanks and guns in the coming days.

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