Monitoring Desk
BERLIN: Germany has not yet made a decision on whether to send Leopard tanks to Ukraine against Russia or allow other nations to donate theirs, despite mounting pressure on Berlin to act.
A meeting on Friday to coordinate military donations for Ukraine did agree to supply more air defence systems and armoured vehicles.
However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky earlier made a specific appeal for modern tanks to repel Russian forces.
Poland’s foreign minister denounced Germany’s reluctance to send tanks.
“Supporting Ukraine in order to repel the Russian forces is not a decision-making exercise. Ukrainian blood is shed for real because of hesitation over Leopard tanks deliveries. We need action right now,” Zbigniew Rau wrote on Twitter.
Germany’s node required to provide tanks to Ukraine
Western countries have pledged billions in other weaponry – but without Germany’s commitment on Leopard tanks, it was not the result Kyiv was hoping for.
Ukraine wants German-made Leopard tanks as they are easy to maintain and designed particularly to compete with the Russian T-90 tanks, which Moscow is using in the invasion of Ukraine.
There are believed to be over 2,000 Leopard 2 tanks worldwide, and President Zelensky believes nearly 300 of them would help ensure its forces’ victory against Russia.
However, according to German export laws, other nations who intend to supply German-made Leopard 2s – like Finland and Poland – can only do so once Berlin gives the all-clear.
Ukraine already has many tanks, but they are old, Soviet-era machines prone to breaking down without the upgraded armour and sophisticated laser range finders found on modern Nato tanks.
The country knows its best; perhaps only the chance of fending off the mass assault Russia is expected to launch in the next few months is fielding enough force of western-supplied armour.
On Friday evening, Mr Zelensky said there was “no alternative” to supplying Ukraine with tanks in a video address: “Each arrangement must be carried out quickly – for our defence.”
