Berlin, January 18 (RHC)-- The United States has launched an expanded combat training program for Ukrainian soldiers.  The top U.S. general, Mark Milley, the chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, toured a U.S. military base in Germany on Monday as Pentagon advisers began training about 500 Ukrainian troops in the use of advanced weapons systems including artillery, tanks and missiles. 

U.S. Army General Milley’s trip came just days after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the U.K. would ship advanced tanks and hundreds of armored vehicles and howitzers to Ukraine, becoming the first Western nation to supply such offensive weaponry.   Earlier this week, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said he expects other allies will soon follow suit.

In related news, German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht has resigned amid mounting criticism from some NATO members over the pace of Germany’s aid to Ukraine.  On Monday, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz toured a German weapons factory, promising to appoint a new defense minister soon.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: “What is important is that when we set about the future of our country, we know that Germany needs a strong military and an efficient defense industry.”  Last year, the German chancellor pledged to spend over $100 billion to expand Germany’s military.