Berlin also confirms it’s giving permission to other nations to send German-made armor to Ukraine
FILE PHOTO. © Christof STACHE / AFP
The German government has approved the supply of Leopard 2 main battle tanks to Ukraine, it announced on Wednesday.
“This decision follows our well-known line of supporting Ukraine to the best of our ability. We are acting in a closely coordinated manner internationally,” Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement.
The move opens the door for nations like Poland to transfer German-made armor to Ukraine. Germany’s failure to give its permission promptly after other nations had announced their intentions exposed it to criticism. Warsaw threatened to form a “smaller coalition” for would-be tank donors and hinted that it would do “the right thing” regardless of Berlin’s position.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius had teased the imminent decision on Tuesday during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg. The official suggested that other nations should identify tanks they want to deliver to Ukraine and start training Ukrainian crews as they expect a nod from Berlin.
Scholz was reportedly reluctant to see German tanks on the battlefield in Ukraine, unless the US paved the way first by agreeing to supply its own Abrams armor. The Pentagon claimed its tanks were too costly and complex to operate and maintain to be of much use to Ukraine.
News network CNN claimed on Tuesday that the Biden administration was about to override the objection and send a “significant number” of US-made war machines to Ukraine.
