US NATO Envoy: Tank debate shows consensus isn't a liability | Conflict Zone

"Consensus is not a liability," the US envoy to NATO told Tim Sebastian referring to the debate among several NATO members including Germany and the United States over delivering Western main battle tanks such as US Abrams tanks and the German-built Leopard 2 to Ukraine. Julianne Smith said each NATO member comes with their own perspective but that the alliance is united in its purpose, including supporting Ukraine. Speaking to DW from NATO headquarters in Brussels, she also said it was up to Kyiv to determine when it would negotiate with Russia to end the war. Smith said NATO countries including the United States had communicated Russia it would face "catastrophic" consequences if it used its nuclear weapons in the conflict.

Chapters info
00:00 Intro

00:24 Julianne Smith US Ambassador to NATO

01:13 NATO unity vs. disunity over Leopard tanks to Kyiv

02:15 We are determined to stay the course in Ukraine

02:50 How many Ukrainian lives lost during weeks of wrangling?

03:21 Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) Ramstein

03:45 We started talking about Stingers & Javelins

04:04 We are focused very much on armored vehicles & tanks

05:00 Chancellor Scholz & President Biden on moving tanks to Ukraine

05:27 Poland on German Leopard decision-making

06:23 Humanitarian & economic assistance to Ukraine

07:16 Will NATO have argument every time Ukraine needs sophisticated gear?

07:44 Allies bring different perspectives

08:35 UK sending Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine

08:54 Consensus is not a liability for NATO

09:10 Biden’s fear that weapons deliveries could threaten NATO & EU

10:09 Russian war crimes & human rights abuses ^ attacks on critical infrastructure

11:11 I see no cracks in this alliance.

12:04 EU security assistance to Ukraine

13:50 NATO Strategic objectives in war

15:04 President Zelenskyy & Ukrainian government determine strategy

15:38 Altering President Putin’s strategic calculus

16:03 NATO training, supplies, money for Ukraine against Russia

16:37 NATO does not have any oresence on the ground

17:00 Russia’s false counter-narrative

17:25 Has NATO given in to nuclear blackmail?

17:51 Catastrophic consequences if Russia uses nuclear arsenal

18:15 Gen (retired) Richard Shirreff on state of war between West & Russia

19:43 Russia’s war & UN Charter, UNGA

20:34 NATO preparation & planning for worst case scenario before & after February, 24, 2022.

22:30 Defending every inch of NATO territory, NATO force posture,

23:00 UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace on UK force readiness

23:25 Vilnius summit & reinforcing eastern flank

23:55 NATO defense spending commitments (2% GDP)

24:20 Where is war headed?

25:12 Will NATO push Ukraine into negotiations with Russia?

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