Germany confirms it will send battle tanks to Ukraine but says it will not ‘become a party to the war’. Russia calls it a ‘disastrous plan’
- US announced it will send M1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine as Germany confirms it will provide the Leopard 2
- Moscow said the tanks will ‘burn down just like all the others’ and that the cost will fall on the shoulders of Europe’s taxpayers
After weeks of hesitation that saw growing impatience among Germany’s allies, Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced on Wednesday that his government would provide Ukraine with Leopard 2 battle tanks and approve requests by other countries to do the same.
In a statement, the government said it would initially provide Ukraine with one company of Leopard 2 A6 tanks, which comprises 14 vehicles, from its own stocks. The goal is for Germany and its allies to provide Ukraine with a total of two battalions, or 88 tanks.
Scholz said Germany was “acting in close coordination” with its allies, while Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said: “We will not become a party to the war, we will make sure of that.”
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German government approves delivery of tanks to Ukraine
The long-awaited decision came after US officials said a preliminary agreement had been struck for the United States to send M1 Abrams tanks to help Kyiv push back Russian forces entrenched in the east almost a year since the start of the war.
Kyiv welcomed Germany’s decision to green light the tank deliveries to Ukraine.
“The first step on tanks has been taken. Next – the ‘tank coalition’. We need a lot of Leopards,” the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration Andriy Yermak said on social media, referring to other countries that have said they would also send the tanks with Berlin’s approval.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki thanked Germany for approving the delivery of the tanks to Ukraine and providing a company of them from Berlin’s own stocks.