Ukraine’s defense minister has said he has had “frank talks” with his German counterpart about the German Leopard 2 tanks, which Kyiv is calling for an immediate countermeasure to Russian weapons.
Despite pressure on Berlin to act, Germany has not yet decided whether to send tanks to Ukraine or allow other countries to donate their own.
“We discussed Cheetah 2 openly,” Oleksiy Raznikov said after meeting with Western allies.
Kyiv is to acquire many other NATO weapons.
The meeting at Ramstein Air Base in Germany resulted in an agreement to supply more armored vehicles, air defense systems and ammunition.
But the Leopard 2 is seen as a potential game-changer for Ukraine, as it is easier to maintain and specifically designed to counter Russian T-90 tanks, which are being used in the offensive. .
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said opinion was divided on the delivery of the Leopard and denied that Berlin was blocking such a move.
Under German export laws, other countries that want to supply leopards – such as Poland and Finland – are unable to do so unless Berlin gives the all-clear.
‘There must be a decision’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy praised military assistance from NATO partners but said “we will still have to fight for the delivery of modern tanks”.
“Every day we make it clear that there is no alternative, a decision must be made about the tanks.”
Ukraine’s current tanks are mostly older Soviet models, often outnumbered by Russian firepower.
Over 2,000 leopards are sitting in warehouses across Europe. President Zelensky believes that about 300 of them could help defeat Russia.
Mr Pistorius said Berlin was ready to move quickly if a consensus was reached between the allies, but he could not say when a decision might be made on the tanks.
Germany’s stalemate
Germany finds itself in this impasse due to a number of factors, including international diplomacy and the legacy of World War II.
It had a policy of not sending weapons to conflict zones, but that reversed after Russia invaded last February.
Late last year, NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Germany was now “one of the largest contributors of military, financial and humanitarian aid to Ukraine” by providing artillery, air defense systems and infantry fighting vehicles. Is.”
But Germany is reluctant to send Leopards unless they are part of a broader NATO package that preferably includes America’s powerful M1 Abrams tanks. The United States has rejected it, saying Abrams tanks are impractical for Ukrainian forces because they are difficult and expensive to maintain.
Regardless, there has been pressure in some corners for the US to send in its tanks, and force Germany to do the same.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin denied that Berlin was waiting for the US to make the first move. “This notion of opening up — in my mind, that’s not an issue,” he said after a meeting of 54 nations at Ramstein Air Base on Friday.
Germany is also reeling from the devastation of the Nazi era in World War II, and Chancellor Olaf Schulz is believed to want anything to do with the tensions in Ukraine.
A leading opposition Christian Democrat (CDU) politician in Germany, Johann Weidefel, condemned the government’s “policy of denial” on the leopard, saying it would damage Germany’s international reputation. “What is Sholz waiting for?” he asked.
Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau also criticized Germany’s reluctance.
“Arming Ukraine to repel Russian aggression is not a decision-making exercise. Ukraine’s blood has truly been spilled. This is the price of hesitation on delivery of the Leopard. We need action now,” he tweeted. need.”
Western countries have committed billions to other weapons – but without Germany’s commitment to tanks, this was not the result Ukraine had hoped for.
Other countries have committed to sending tanks, including the UK, which will send 14 Challenger 2s.
The US this week announced more than $2.5bn (£2bn) worth of fresh aid, including armored vehicles.
The Pentagon pledged to provide 59 more Bradley armored vehicles, 90 Stryker personnel carriers and other equipment, including the Avenger air defense system.
