Germany on Wednesday approved the delivery of Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, after weeks of pressure to authorize this military aid to Kiev in the fight against Russian forces.
Berlin will deliver 14 Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine and allow other European countries to send these types of vehicles to Kiev, German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit said in a statement.
“The aim is to quickly assemble two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks for Ukraine,” he said.
“This decision follows our known line of support for Ukraine in the best possible way. We are acting internationally in a very coordinated manner,” said German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, quoted by spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.
In a statement, the German government said it will initially deliver 14 of its Leopard 2 A6 tanks to Ukraine. Germany and its allies are expected to supply the Ukrainian army with a total of 88 tanks.
Germany’s defense minister, quoted by CNN International, said the Leopard 2 tanks could be operational in Ukraine in about three months.
Boris Pistorius believed that Germany’s decision to send these tanks was “historic”. It is important that “we do not become part of the war”, the German minister warned.
Berlin’s decision comes after US officials announced that a tentative agreement had been reached to send M1 Abrams tanks to Kiev to push back entrenched Russian forces in eastern Ukraine.
Ukraine salutes thanks to German tanks. “We need a lot of leopards”
Scholz insisted that any move to supply Ukraine with the powerful Leopard 2 tanks would have to be coordinated with Germany’s allies, especially the United States.
By getting Washington to deploy some of its own tanks, Berlin hopes to reduce the risk of a Russian backlash.
Training of Ukrainian soldiers will soon begin in Germany. In addition, Ukraine will also receive a package that includes logistics, ammunition and system maintenance, the statement added.
The German spokesman further indicated that Germany will issue the corresponding transfer licenses to partner countries that want to quickly deliver Leopard 2 tanks from their reserves to Ukraine.
Ukraine welcomed the green light from Germany to supply these tanks. “The first step on tanks has been taken. Then the coalition of tanks. We need a lot of leopards”, The head of Ukraine’s presidential administration, Andriy Yermak, said on social media, referring to other countries saying they would also send the tanks with Berlin’s approval.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also welcomed Germany’s decision. It should be remembered that the Land of Berlin had already submitted a formal request to deliver these German-made combat vehicles to Kiev.
“It is a big step to stop Russia,” said the Polish head of government.
thanks @Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholtz. The decision to send leopards to Ukraine is a big step towards stopping Russia. Together we are stronger.
– Mateusz Morawiecki (@MorawieckiM) January 25, 2023
Rishi Sunak, the British Prime Minister, believed that sending German-made tanks to the Ukrainian army is a “right decision” by allies and NATO partners.
The Leopard 2 tanks will “enhance Ukraine’s defensive firepower,” he stressed.
“Together we are accelerating our efforts to ensure Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace,” the British Prime Minister said. in posts on Twitter.
The right decision of NATO allies and friends to send battle tanks to Ukraine. In addition to Challenger 2s, they will bolster Ukraine’s defensive firepower.
Together we are accelerating our efforts to ensure that Ukraine wins this war and secures a lasting peace. https://t.co/55BKg7orfJ
Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) January 25, 2023
Western tanks “will burn like all others,” the Kremlin says
This Wednesday, the Kremlin already announced that Western tanks “will burn” if they are handed over to Ukraine, as with all others. A position made public before Germany confirmed the delivery of Leopard tanks to Kiev.
The West “overestimates the potential that (tanks) can bring to the Ukrainian military,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. “These tanks will burn like all the others. They are very expensive,” he stressed.
This week, Peskov said an eventual delivery of German tanks to Ukraine – now confirmed – would do “no good” for the future of the Berlin-Moscow relationship.
A Kremlin spokesman has previously said that Western weapons supplied to Ukraine will only prolong the conflict and the suffering of Ukrainian citizens.
Source: DN
