EU secretary suggests Russia is advancing war to ‘different stage’ despite tanks

Jenny Goldsberry

January 28, 03:30 PM January 28, 03:30 PM

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A European Union general secretary noted Friday that Russia is advancing the war “into a different stage” across Ukraine as its more foreign artillery is sent towards the conflict.

External Action Service Secretary General Stefano Sannino was among the Foreign Correspondents Club in Japan at the time when he was asked about the effects of increased involvement from Ukrainian allies. A total of 12 countries have committed to provide Ukraine with tanks, some countries promising to send more than they already have. Sannino argued that Russia’s “unjustified and ungrounded” aggression came first.

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“I think that this latest development in terms of armed supply is just an evolution of the situation and of the way Russia has started moving the war into a different stage,” Sannino said. “So for me, it’s not moving the war into a different stage it’s just giving the possibility of saving their lives and allowing the Ukrainians to defend from these barbaric attacks.”

EU external action service secretary general Stefano Sannino’s press conference

Yet, despite the introduction of more tanks, Estonian defense minister’s permanent secretary Kusti Salm suggested Russia is better equipped for conflict. Salm reminded reporters in Washington earlier this week that the Russian military can fire 10,000 rounds of artillery a day and mobilize as many as 300,000 new recruits in as little as a few weeks.

Sannino went on to condemn Russia’s seeming acceleration of attacks on citizens and cities versus military sites and infrastructure.

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Meanwhile, the tanks from the United States in particular will take “many months” to reach Ukraine, according to the White House.