NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Tuesday that he expects a decision “soon” about sending German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine, as pressure mounts on Berlin to give the green light for the delivery of this military aid.
“We have discussed the issue of war tanks. Consultations between our allies will continue and I am confident that we will soon find a solution,” Stoltenberg said in Berlin, together with the German defense minister.
Boris Pistorius stated that Germany’s decision to send Leopard tanks “will come very soonHowever, the Defense Minister indicated that the Allies may begin training Ukrainian troops in the use of Leopard tanks, although a decision from Berlin on sending this equipment to Ukraine is pending.
“I have expressly encouraged partner countries that have ready-made Leopard tanks to train Ukrainian troops in these vehicles”said Boris Pistorius at the joint press conference with NATO’s Secretary General.
Poland has now made a formal request to Germany to supply Polish Leopard tanks to Ukraine, Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Blaszczak announced on Tuesday.
Ukraine has urgently asked to provide German-made Leopard tanks to fight Russian troops, but the government in Berlin has not yet decided whether they will provide them.
Poland has said it is ready to supply the Leopard tanks, but lacks permission from Germany, whose chief of diplomacy Annalena Baerbock said on Sunday that Berlin would not oppose such a request.
The delivery of tanks will bring “no good” to relations between Moscow and Berlin, the Kremlin says
Jens Stoltenberg praised Pistorius’s “clear message” because, he said, after a decision was made on the delivery of these tanks, “it will take some time to identify, prepare and deploy the Ukrainian soldiers who will use them.” to lead”.
The Kremlin has already signaled that the delivery of German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine will bring “nothing good” as pressure mounts on Berlin to approve arms deliveries to Kiev.
“Such renditions would do no good” for the future of relations between Berlin and Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “They will leave a lasting impression,” he added.
BORN. ‘We have no indication that Putin has changed his goals’
“We have to provide Ukraine with heavier and more advanced systems, and we have to do it faster,” Stoltenberg defended, noting that Moscow showed no signs of changing course.
“We have no indication that President (Vladimir) Putin has changed his goals… The only way to have lasting peace is to make it clear to Putin that he will not win on the battlefield. We must therefore provide heavier systems.” he continued. the Secretary General of NATO.
With Lusa
Source: DN
